Two wrongs and a right

The John James blog has of late thrown up many hooks to hang our theories on and provided much food for thought on the Rangers issue.

His casual invective against individuals, particularly Dave King, and often members of the Bench is not particularly SFM-like in its approach, but despite the industrial nature of much of the discourse, the value of his work cannot be denied.

On the subject of revisiting LNS, I find myself in agreement with his conclusions. His argument about Celtic’s attitude to Resolution 12 is to my mind compelling insofar as it serves as a barometer for Celtic’s disposition towards rocking the SPL/SFA boat. Like him, I cannot see any real evidence, (despite the recent statement by the club) that they are disposed to move in the direction of a revisited LNS (although it should be noted that besides Celtic there are another 40 clubs who may have an opinion on this).

His conclusions though should not be confused with his opinion on the rights and wrongs of LNS. Like most of us, he appears to be of the opinion that LNS was seriously flawed on multiple counts.

I saw Bill McMurdo’s remarks too in reference to the same topic. He alleges that the whole SFA house of cards would come down if information he has at his fingertips, information that off-book payments in Scottish football was much more widespread that the RFC EBTs, was made public.

UnderTableIf what he says is true, and he has evidence, he should be expanding on the innuendo.

If he chooses not to, then he is as complicit as those he accuses.

In any event, to say that no action should be taken because others have done it is not the same as saying that no action WILL be taken.

If he means the former, then he is wrong. By the logic of that argument it follows that burglars for example should not be prosecuted because other people burgle houses but didn’t get caught.

I suspect he knows himself that by any objective standard, this view is in error, because when he is called out on it, he reverts to ad hominem attacks on those who called him on it. No defence, just withering, dismissive sarcasm – in the manner of former pundit Jim Traynor when he refers to those who speak of sporting integrity.

If he means the latter, then he should do what he can do prevent it and make his information public. I believe he knows that the £3 note fraternity runs through Scottish football like lettering on a stick of seaside rock, but I suspect he doesn’t actually have evidence.

If there is evidence, then McMurdo is in a unique position to get it out in the open and make life difficult for those he alleges are corrupt.

Then we should go back in time as far as possible to investigate those who participated in “black money” schemes, whether they are EBTs, other forms of tax dodge, or just money in a brown paper bag.

I do not believe that any of us participating in the Scottish Football Monitor would fear exposure of any of our clubs. I think we all know that this is far more important than club loyalties.

If McMurdo’s information is correct, then we also have the opportunity to show that the clamour for revisiting LNS is not an anti-Rangers with-hunt. Instead of reconvening LNS, let’s have Bill’s info, and constitute a wider enquiry. If the info was made public, and it will now be difficult for him to put his genie back into the bottle, could the SFA and the clubs resist the pressure for such an enquiry?

handsMaybe McMurdo’s intervention/revelation may yet be seen as a seminal moment in the campaign to rid ourselves of corruption and incompetence in football.

Our position has always been clear. Corruption is counter to sporting integrity. Therefore it must be rooted out.

John James and Merlin are probably correct in that the clubs will seek to thwart any move for a new enquiry; and there could easily have been a deal done with King last week.

However there was also a deal done with Charles Green about the new club being parachuted into the SPL. How did that one turn out?

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John Cole

About Big Pink

Big Pink is John Cole; a former schoolteacher based in the West of Scotland, He is also a print and broadcast journalist who is engaged in the running of SFM . Former gigs include Newstalk 106, the Celtic View, and Channel67. A Celtic fan, he is also the voice of our podcast initiative.

1,703 thoughts on “Two wrongs and a right


  1. I see Kenny McIntyre is tweeting that he knows why Warburton didn’t appear on his program, would love to be able to tell us why, but is unable to do so. Surely nothing to do with the ongoing court cases14

    At a guess though, perhaps his Warbliness is unhappy at discovering his two starlets won’t be joining him this week, particularly if the reason is TRFC couldn’t meet the required fee! Perhaps it was felt too great a risk that his unhappiness might become apparent under the hard hitting questioning that TRFC managers always face from the SMSM!

    Of course, it could be something of a personal nature, and perfectly proper not to make it public. But if so, why would Mr McIntyre say he’d love to be able to tell us? Why, if there is a proper and reasonable reason for keeping quiet would he be so ready to let us know he knows the reason and it is of such interest that he would love to announce it?


  2. torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) 6th January 2016 at 9:44 
    _____
    Your mention of the Project Charlotte sent me looking up  the paper relating to Project Roosevelt, based on a meeting held on 19th September 2011. Two options were examined informally by Morton Fraser LLP.
    Option A, “to hive off the business and assets of  the operating company to the holding company, make good any asset deficit in the operating company by eith subscribing for equity or lending money to the operating company by way of convertible debt, then liquidate the operating company by way of a memners’ voluntary liquidation,ensuring that all actual creditors have been  paid in full,on the basis that it would constitute a solvent re-structuring of the business.
    OptionB, would be to place the operating company in receivership or administration and then acquire most of the business and assets of the operating company via a pre-pack.”
    This advice was followed by the observation that Timeline Timing is critical, especially for Option A- to be a solvent restructuring then it would have to take place prior to the the hearing of the tax claim in November 2011.
    [I printed this off on 15/06/13, as one of the CharlotteFakes publications, uploaded on Scribd mobile ( whatever the hell that means!)on 14/06/13]


  3. StevieBC@10.34
    Why not slap a £35M release clause on the Accrington Stanley player ?
    That’s being kept for Warburton himself, when Chelsea, Man City, and Man Utd come a’calling!
       


  4. smartie1947 6th January 2016 at 10:44 pm
    StevieBC@10.34Why not slap a £35M release clause on the Accrington Stanley player ?
    ======================
    That’s being kept for Warburton himself, when Chelsea, Man City, and Man Utd come a’calling!
    ==============================================
    Absolutely !
    I deleted my prior post because I thought I should check where this £3.5M quote came from. So far, it’s just from a Twitter reference from an Andy Newport, as mentioned previously above. So, could be dreamed up bollox, a la Keef.

    And I believe [?] that a release clause has no bearing on the carrying value of a player – it’s just a dreamed up number at which a club is obligated to open talks with a prospective buying club. Ronaldo’s release clause is quoted at about £800M !

    But it could provide feel-good mentions for the SMSM in future:
    “…the £3.5M rated Windass…”  09


  5. Sorry missed your comment EasyJambo.

    I can’t be responsible for anyone else. If the authorities tell me there is a risk of prejudice I have to consider that for myself, as I say in the post the right of everyone to a fair trial has to come first. 


  6. James thanks for the clarification re the Albion.  Looking back it looks like when it was bought was always ambiguous in Mr Charles’s quotes but STV did report it  as part of the asset sale.


  7. tykebhoy 6th January 2016 at 11:11 pm #
    James thanks for the clarification re the Albion.  Looking back it looks like when it was bought was always ambiguous in Mr Charles’s quotes but STV did report it  as part of the asset sale.
    ============================
    I’m sure your recollection was correct that Edmiston House and the Albion car park were purchased after the IPO. To that extent the reference in the indictment will be incorrect, but will ultimately be corrected, before or during any trial.

    Edit: – from the 2012/13 interim accounts:

    * Acquisition of the Albion car park and Edmiston House for future ventures to enhance match day experience in January 2013


  8. The ‘Fans Manifesto’ event at the Scottish Parliament takes place from 1-2pm on Thursday 7th January 2016
    This event is the work of the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) and is being addressed by former First Minister Henry McLeish, Alison Johnstone MSP, commentator Gerry Hassan and others.
    I read about it at the weekend (Twitter?) and after a quick chat with BP we agreed it was worth attending as SFM and the SFSA seem to have some  common goals.
    BP could not attend due to late notice and other engagements but John Clarke has agreed to come along and I look forward to both meeting John and finding out a bit more about the SFSA and perhaps them finding out a bit more about us, although we are well known and respected by Paul Goodwin, the man behind the SFSA.
    By 1pm tomorrow their Manifesto will be public but I know tomorrow’s event is about making known the views of 10,000 supporters who took part in a survey about their concerns about our game, as well as introducing the SFSA to the wider Scottish football supporting world. 
    It should be worthwhile attending and providing feedback because the tree that is  Scottish football governance is being shaken to its roots because it is planted in a soil lacking transparency and accountability to all stakeholders and has lost its integrity.
    If ever there was a time for a new tree to planted in more fertile soil it is now. 
    I look forward to finding out more and sharing it.
    (For those up early enough their is sneak preview on Good Morning Scotland at 7.45am)


  9. Auldheid 6th January 2016 at 11:50 pm
    ‘…..BP could not attend due to late notice and other engagements but John Clarke has agreed to come along and I look forward to both meeting John and finding out a bit more about the SFSA and perhaps them finding out a bit more about us ..’
    ________
    I’ll head off our Essex Beancounter ( and where has he been this last wee while?) and say that it’s John Clark without the ‘e’!02
    I need to say also, of course, that I have been, if not exactly critical of the SFSA, then a bit puzzled at their seeming blindness to the extraordinary behaviour of our Football authorities in relation to the whole ‘saga’.
    I personally think that for supporters to worry about ‘fan ownership’ and ‘greater involvement’ issues is kind of secondary to the deeper need that we have to be assured 
    that our game is administered and run by men and women who believe in the principle of Sporting Integrity: fair, open, unrigged, competition under whatever rules have been agreed from time to time
    that the rules are  applied fairly and evenly to all and every club,
    that attempts to spin falsehood as truth, and absurd lies as Truth,out of fear or favour or for any other reason , and to shield officers and officials from the consequences of their inefficiency or their complicity in ‘dirty’ administrative action ,are crushed in the bud.
    If I get an opportunity to say this to the SFSA, I will say it. Essentially, everything else in football,  however useful and necessary and desirable , has in my opinion  to be on hold until the great wrong done by our Football Governance people is corrected.


  10. John Clark 7th January 2016 at 12:37 am #Auldheid 6th January 2016 at 11:50 pm ‘…..BP could not attend due to late notice and other engagements but John Clarke has agreed to come along and I look forward to both meeting John and finding out a bit more about the SFSA and perhaps them finding out a bit more about us ..’ ________ I’ll head off our Essex Beancounter ( and where has he been this last wee while?) and say that it’s John Clark without the ‘e’!
    ==============================
    I suspect that EBC is like myself fairly busy at the moment.
    I’ve only just finished for the day (night), and was going to just have a quick look before bed, but seeing that Auldheid and JC are flying the SFM flag at tomorrow’s SFSA event I’d like to wish them good luck in getting our message about sporting integrity across.
    Is the SFSA related to the FSA in England?
    If so and if it can grow to a similar size as it’s English cousin pro rata, it could be a very useful ally in the future, as the English FSA seems to be quite effective.


  11. And, as a wee aside and now that I remember, did you know that CG has a minder?
    A tall, thin, grim looking, skinheaded/bald  chap in his ( and I’m hopeless at estimating ages) mid-forties. Straight out of central casting.
    I watched him as he watched who was going into the ‘gents’ in the courthouse when CG went, and sort of vetted them , even moving right up to the door to make sure he had seen everyone who was going in.
    To be fair, he very graciously acknowledged my attempt at door-holding for him when we both tried to get into the bog at the same time.
    And, I can add, there is nothing of Yorkshire bombast in said CG: he looks like an old, tired, dejected, worried man. The other accused also look  like deeply worried men, in an oddly detached kind of way. One of them didn’t even seem to advert to the fact that his Counsel was referring to him when he was addressing the judge..
    And all of a sudden, an image of that fine little historic town of Nuremberg has sprung into my mind.Can’t imagine what triggered that.


  12. amadan 7th January 2016 at 1:46 am #
    The Albion  was always owned by them. What Charles did was buyout the long term lease/Leaseback agreement with a finance company from Manchester. I have details sonewhere in deeds. Will look it out later.
    =================================
    From the 2013 Accounts:

    The Group has invested a total of £5.3m in property and other fixed assets during the year. Heritable property acquisitions consists of the purchasing of the Albion car Park from Lloyds Banking Group for £1.6m and Edmiston House from MIH Group for £0.8m, with a further £0.1m being incurred on internal works on the property.

    ….and from Big Hands himself in March 2013

    The Rangers Chief Executive Charles Green – “I am Currently working with planners on new schemes. I bought back the Albion Car Park and Edmiston House. We were paying £400,000 a year in finance to Lloyds for the Albion car park. I paid £1.4 Million to buy this back. I want to move the Ibrox Training Complex from in front of the stadium and then Create a Walkway to Ibrox Stadium for Families – Similar to Wembley Way. We Bought Edmiston House for £1 Million and so the Ground Floor will become the New Rangers Megastore and the Current Rangers Megastore will become the New Ticket Office so the Fans don’t need to Queue Outside. I want to Open a Fan Museum and Create a Café and also a Bar so that Fans can spend 3-4 hours at Ibrox Stadium on a Non-Matchday.”


  13. eJ,

    It does seem a bit sloppy if the indictment contains such obvious errors. Can you or James or John say if that is unusual – or is it par for the course for indictments to be incorrect in this way.

    Opens the door to al sorts of legal loopholes being exploited one would think.


  14. I notice Bumble (cricket’s David Lloyd) is letting off steam on twitter over the ‘ethics’ of TRFC in their dealings with Accrington Stanley, or rather, the way they didn’t deal with Accrington Stanley. He is also stating he’s read up about ‘Glasgow Rangers’ and knows the facts. Whether he knows all the facts or not, he’s angry at the way TRFC have dealt with his home town club.

    For those who don’t follow cricket, Bumble is a great commentator with a gentle, self mocking, sense of humour, and is just about the only thing my wife likes about the cricket on TV 14, it would be great, in my opinion, if he could be contacted and asked to be interviewed or to write a blog for SFM, not necessarily TRFC related. He clearly embraces social media and might well be enthusiastic about our attempts to create more than just a fan-site.

    He loves cricket, he loves football, he loves sport. He strikes me as the kind of person who, if he does read up and appraise himself of all the facts of the ‘Rangers scandal’, would be just as angry over their cheating as he is over their ‘disrespectful’ actions in their signing of his club’s two young players.

    He might be difficult to pin down, though – he definitely ‘jets in’ and just as often ‘jets out’ – but he seems a very engaging chap, and I’m sure could create a lot of interest for the blog. One problem he might have, though, in engaging with us is…He is employed by Sky, who might not enjoy the idea that one of their star commentators would involve himself with truth seekers.


  15. I’ll head off our Essex Beancounter ( and where has he been this last wee while?) and say that it’s John Clark without the ‘e’!…
    ================================================================
    JC(e), thank you for your concern but I have been “locked” out and had to lurk for a few weeks…but I have read each and every single post…sterling stuff from all contributors.
    However I would remind you that your blog name is John Clark(e)…and I have blagging rights on that one.
    Belated New Year greeting and I am pleased you travelled safely to and from “foreign parts”.
     
     
     


  16. The Cat NR1 7th January 2016 at 1:41 am  I suspect that EBC is like myself fairly busy at the moment.
    ===============================
    Cat…many thanks for your words of mutual support.
    Things are not too bad…just yet…but no doubt the usual last minute Charlies (no, not that one!) will ultimately decide how frantic things get 09


  17. John Clark without the e (I’ve a blind spot on the spelling ?)

    Go for it. 

    It will be interesting to hear the response.


  18. John Clark 7th January 2016 at 2:10 am
    And, as a wee aside and now that I remember, did you know that CG has a minder?A tall, thin, grim looking, skinheaded/bald chap in his ( and I’m hopeless at estimating ages) mid-forties. Straight out of central casting.I watched him as he watched who was going into the ‘gents’ in the courthouse when CG went, and sort of vetted them , even moving right up to the door to make sure he had seen everyone who was going in.To be fair, he very graciously acknowledged my attempt at door-holding for him when we both tried to get into the bog at the same time.And, I can add, there is nothing of Yorkshire bombast in said CG: he looks like an old, tired, dejected, worried man. The other accused also look like deeply worried men, in an oddly detached kind of way. One of them didn’t even seem to advert to the fact that his Counsel was referring to him when he was addressing the judge..And all of a sudden, an image of that fine little historic town of Nuremberg has sprung into my mind.Can’t imagine what triggered that.
    —————————————————————————————————————————-
    Sounds like they are preparing their “Alzheimers” defence!


  19. From what I’ve read about the transfers it doesn’t look like Rangers haven’t broken any rules in signing the Accrington Stanley players. Their chairman seems annoyed that no one picked up the phone (they don’t have too) to tell them what was happening and that cross border compensation rules mean they’ll receive a fraction of what they might have got had any of the players moved to another English league club. That’s not Rangers fault.

    Signing players is a risk and clubs understandably don’t want to commit to longer contracts because of tight finances. They then potentially run the risk of losing a player if he performs well and is only tied down for one or two years. All clubs can ‘suffer’ but also benefit from players moving under freedom of contract. Sounds a lot like sour grapes to me.


  20. John Clark @ 12.37am
    I had a Twitter exchange with Paul Goodwin of the SFSA a few weeks back and asked him why his organisation isn’t being more proactive on the whole TRFC issue.   His response was along the lines that he didn’t want to see the SFSA become a ‘one issue’ organisation.   Strange line to take I thought given the implications for Scottish football. 


  21. Big Pink 7th January 2016 at 8:25 am #
    eJ,
    It does seem a bit sloppy if the indictment contains such obvious errors. Can you or James or John say if that is unusual – or is it par for the course for indictments to be incorrect in this way.
    Opens the door to al sorts of legal loopholes being exploited one would think.
    ============================
    James told me that indictments in major cases tend to go through several iterations, so I wouldn’t worry too much about legal loopholes …….. yet!


  22. Auldheid 7th January 2016 at 9:50 am #John Clark without the e (I’ve a blind spot on the spelling )
    Go for it. 
    It will be interesting to hear the response.
    =============================
    Auldheid, I am (almost) ashamed to admit that I gave you a “gentle” TD for your retort.
    I would refer all to the public admissions of the aforementioned John Clark(e) as to why he got his original spelling of the player’s name wrong…. 09


  23. Just a thought on the two ‘starlets’ that TRFC have signed, on pre-contracts!

    At the same time as they are signing these two players as ‘investments for the future’, they are off-loading, or are trying to offload, a number of players who, having progressed their careers quite significantly before joining the club, are now considered not good enough, even in the Championship.

    Now, clearly, having spent most of his Ibrox career under the careful eye of Ally McCoist and mates, David Templeton (as an example) is not the player he was with Hearts. As a young man, even younger than Crooks and Windass, he could terrorise the defences of many a top tier club, and in one of his last appearances for Hearts, scored a Europa League goal at Anfield. His CV, at his time of signing for TRFC, far outweighs that of the two Accrington Stanley boys, whose ‘fame’ was acquired in the lowest level of the senior English game.

    TRFC may well improve their coaching abilities, but in David Templeton, and some other young hopefuls, we can see what the future will hold for a great many young players, not only at TRFC, but at all clubs, worldwide. We can also see that the likelihood of TRFC making millions on selling these two players, or for them to actually make a significant impact, even in the Championship should TRFC stay there, is not exactly high. 

    They might both make it in a big way, but I’d suggest that the chances of them leaving for free, at some point in the future, are significantly higher!

    Of course, neither player might ever kick a ball for TRFC, but that’s another story, in fact, it’s more than another story, as there’s quite a number of scenarios to be played out that could each lead to them never playing a game at Ibrox!


  24. incredibleadamspark 7th January 2016 at 10:44 am #
    =================================
    I agree no written rules appear to have been broken but unwritten rules involving courtesy do appear to have been.  Not very dignified from a club who’s predecessor claimed Dignity or respectful from a manager who’s favourite words appear to be derivations of respect.  There also appears to have been an element of “tapping up” as stories around at least Windasshave been in the press most of the autumn.


  25. I would be very disappointed if Bumble were not how he appears to be in his public persona- he really comes across a real gentleman with a whole set of eccentricities which add to the sum of human happiness. He is ribbed often about Accrington Stanley
    He also played for England and coached them so not only has he the engaging personality but the subject knowledge. 
    is there a Scottish equivalent? 
    And yes I do follow the England cricket team…


  26. ICT NEWS

    We are delighted to confirm that following the completion of the paperwork this morning (Thursday), Miles Storey’s loan, which was due to end following this weekend’s William Hill Scottish Cup tie away to Stirling Albion, has been extended until the end of the season.  


  27. Thanks to Harry Reid on twitter I have read this for the first time:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17116759

    It kind of sets out how UEFA view a liquidated club, or rather, how they view the club that is set up under the same name!

    It is explained by the Derry City chairman, a very disappointed but, from his words, un-bitter man. A man intent on not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes. I’d suggest that if you come across someone claiming that UEFA view TRFC as a continuation of ‘Rangers’ that you point them towards this article.

    The following extract kind of sets out how UEFA, and an honest club chairman, sees the effect of liquidation.

    “Derry City chairman Philip O’Doherty received the bad news in a phone call shortly before lunchtime on Tuesday.
    “Because the new club has only been in existence for two years – not three years – we had to apply for a derogation of the rule,” said the Derry chairman. “We paid a lot of football debts that were nothing to do with us, but from the previous club but apparently we’re not going to be accepted.” ”

    So, nothing to do with ‘not having 3 years accounts’, purely down to being a new club! Unless, of course, the Derry City board, and their lawyers, made a mistake and misunderstood the relevant UEFA rules. Maybe the bit where UEFA wrote, ‘because you don’t have 3 year’s accounts’ was mistakenly read as ‘because you are less than 3 years old’, by the club board and their advisors. Or maybe Mr O’Doherty just made a surprising number of slips of the tongue when speaking to the BBC reporter 14 Maybe BBC Scotland could read this report and do an article on how this affects TRFC!


  28. bfbpuzzled 7th January 2016 at 11:50 am # I would be very disappointed if Bumble were not how he appears to be in his public persona- he really comes across a real gentleman with a whole set of eccentricities which add to the sum of human happiness. He is ribbed often about Accrington Stanley He also played for England and coached them so not only has he the engaging personality but the subject knowledge.  is there a Scottish equivalent?  And yes I do follow the England cricket team…
    _________________________

    As I do, bfb, and it’s only in cricket that I do cheer on England!

    Bumble always gives me the impression of a man who absolutely loves his sport, and sport in general, and hates cheats, though accepts that in the game, itself, it is up to individuals whether or not they walk. But cheating by a club, or country, or collusion to aid/cover up cheating by cricket’s authorities, would be a massive no, no! I’m sure he would demand that everything is aired in the open, and if he was campaigning for honesty and integrity in cricket (if he felt it necessary), regardless of his ‘bumbleness’ he is held in such high regard that there’d be no way anyone could silence him!

    There may be a Scottish equivalent, but in football at least, he would not be allowed free rein to speak as he would wish!

    I’m sure, that if Bumble was able to find the time to read the full story of what Rangers did to Scottish football (and the taxman) (if only someone could send him a copy of ‘Downfall’) and what TRFC are doing now, then every cricket club dressing-room, and every club bar, in every cricketing country in the world, would hear about the ‘Rangers scandal’!

    And right now, he seems to have his dander up22


  29. AJ
    Bumble is an ardent and long time Accrington Stanley fan and so would be well annoyed at any shenanigans with regard their players.

    At the moment he is between test matches and if not already very soon to be in Johannesburg near a recently emptied wine cellar and the Chairman of the club he is apparently annoyed about. I am sure Phil MGB could send him a copy of Downfall in between chapters of his new play, but it might be quicker for someone on Twitter or Facebook to contact him and point him in the direction of SFM, Downfall and PMGB’s blogs and also On Fields of Green and James’ part 1 and 2 summary on the destruction of Scottish football.

    Just wonder how long it would be after his first comments on Twitter/Facebook/TV that someone at Sky might have a word in his shell like asking him not to mention the war! Then again Bumble taking the opportunity (having read the history) of being in Johannesburg to interview DCK could be compelling TV!

    Scottish Football needs a Strong Arbroath and East Fife.


  30. Follow Follow ‏@Follow_Follow_ 19m19 minutes ago
    The news that Rangers First are polling re giving the club a loan is a pretty interesting insight into the merits and limits of altruism.

    RANGERS FIRST have today started polling members over a potential £500k interest free loan to the Ibrox club.

    The fan ownership scheme have become one of the largest shareholders in RIFC plc in recent months and continue to collect a significant sum of money each month.

    Now the group have offered half a million pounds to the Light Blues board on the same terms as the loans provided by chairman Dave King and the Three Bears consortium.

    If approved, the loan could be converted to shares at a future date to further strengthen Rangers First’s hand and give supporters a greater say in the running of their club.

    RF members have until January 10 to cast their vote and the resolution requires 75% approval to be passed.

    In a letter to members today, RF say: “Rangers First is the 8th largest shareholder in the Club and we remain committed to increasing your shareholding in the Club.

    “We are always looking at ways in which to build our holding while also contributing to the rebuilding of our Club and we have such an opportunity to present for members’ approval today.

    “We believe you, as our members, want to help to drive the push for promotion and get our team and Club back to where we belong.

    “As you know loans have been provided to the Club and the Rangers First Board also want to give our members the option to contribute. We are therefore asking you to decide whether or not to join with Dave King, the Three Bears and others and offer the Club a loan of half a million pounds.

    “If the necessary approvals are obtained, then the intention is that the loan will be converted to shares which will increase the shares held by Rangers supporters in the club.

    “The loan would be on the same terms as Dave King and the 3 Bears and would be made available in the middle of January with drawdowns through to the end of the Season.

    “The loan will be interest free, unsecured and will run until a share or rights issue can take place with a longstop date for repayment of two years. The Club would also have the option of being able to repay it at any time in that period.

    “Your Board has had much discussion and debate regarding this and believes that this may be one of the best ways for Rangers First to help the Club continue to rebuild, develop and expand.

    “This is a key issue on which RF asks its members to decide, we are therefore asking members to approve your CIC making a loan of half a million pounds to Rangers International Football Club PLC.”


  31. As predicted the other day they weren’t half quick in going on bended knee to the fans funds to gather money to keep the lights on.

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14189083.Rangers_First_consider___500k_loan_offer_to_Ibrox_board/?ref=twtrec

    Drip, drip, drip with the RRM ‘investment options’  funds until season ticket renewal time.

    You would have thought by now the penny would have dropped that DCK is a busted flush and  isn’t going to be over-investing in anything!!

    Next question from any switched on Bears must be “What happens when we hit the same funding problem next season?”


  32. According to the Rangers first guy on Twitter(Andy McKellar) the club haven’t asked for a loan.The cash will help to:
    “Provide funds, help the club, help protect against future dilution. Seems sensible enough to me.”


  33. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dave-king-rangers-one-strongest-5739734

    22 May 2015

    “Now if you look at Rangers, even in terms of the financials, we are in an incredibly strong position. We have shareholders who can fund it and it has virtually no debt. How many clubs in the world don’t have debt?
    “For any football club our balance sheet is incredibly strong. We are one of the strongest clubs in the world financially.
    “How many clubs are sitting with £5m of interest-free debt and that is all they’ve got? We got the fans, we’ve got the season-ticket money, we’ve got the stadium, everything all paid for. There’s not many clubs in that position. We’re incredibly strong financially at the moment.”

    http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/rangers/14109514.Dave_King_reckons_Rangers_are____one_of_the_strongest_clubs_financially_in_the_world___/

    27 November 2015 (same guff)

    “If you at the financial strength of the club, once the Sports Direct loan is paid off, other than shareholder loans – which I’m saying you treat as equity – Rangers Football Club has no debt.
    “You will go far to find a single football club in the world that has a balance sheet as strong as Rangers, where it has no debt at all, a strong supporter base and owns all its assets.
    “I actually think we are one of the strongest clubs financially in the world and our balance sheet is exceptionally strong. “As I say, once the Sports Direct debt is repaid, we have no external debt whatsoever. Barcelona can’t say that, Manchester United can’t say that.

    Today – begging fans for what is most likely emergency cash to keep the lights on. You don’t see the likes of Barcelona and Man Utd doing that, do you?

    Catch Me If You Can was on the TV again the other night. Posted it ages ago but the line from the film re how a con works by the level of distraction is still relevant given all the puff pieces we have seen in the past few days re the club from Govan.

    Frank Abagnale Sr.: You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?
    Frank Abagnale, Jr.: ‘Cause they have Mickey Mantle?
    Frank Abagnale Sr.: No, it’s ’cause the other teams can’t stop staring at those damn pinstripes.


  34. torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) 7th January 2016 at 1:29 pm #
    According to the Rangers first guy on Twitter(Andy McKellar) the club haven’t asked for a loan. The cash will help to: “Provide funds, help the club, help protect against future dilution. Seems sensible enough to me.”
    ===============================
    Of course the club won’t have asked for a loan. They will have asked for an “investment” and in return may get a blazer and a club tie.


  35. torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) 7th January 2016 at 1:29 pm

    No problem at all with the fans helping out the club. It has happened many a time elsewhere. It is what fans do.
    However let’s not kid a kidder.
    Despite all the bluster the Govan club is skint and is relying on ‘investment’ from the only people willing to put money their way, i.e RRM
    At this moment in time nobody else will go near them.
    The existing co-investors look like they are getting towards their credit limits and King clearly doesn’t have the £30m he bragged about or this fans ‘rainy day money’, raised by ordinary Joe’s at a time when times are hard for many BTW, would be left untouched until such times as the man on the street could be offered some security.

     


  36. That money is headed straight to glib ones defence lawyer.


  37. “The loan will be interest free, unsecured and will run until a share or rights issue can take place with a longstop date for repayment of two years. The Club would also have the option of being able to repay it at any time in that period.
    “Your Board has had much discussion and debate regarding this and believes that this may be one of the best ways for Rangers First to help the Club continue to rebuild, develop and expand.
    “This is a key issue on which RF asks its members to decide, we are therefore asking members to approve your CIC making a loan of half a million pounds to Rangers International Football Club PLC.”

    So the TRFC/RIFC(?) board are scrabbling now to bring in loans of just £0.5 million. What about moneybags King? Where is his mighty chest? He can’t bring £0.5 million to the table himself? But he is immensely wealthy isn’t he? Why is this question not being asked? Why are those fans not asking this question?? They have been conned before and yet there appears to still be an appetite to hand money over to these shysters!!

    Why are the SMSM, SFA, SPFL and all the associated hangers on so willing to stand by and watch loyal supporters throwing money at this beast, knowing damn well that there is a good chance they will lose it all yet again!!

    I have no time for the sectarianism, supremist, arrogant entitlement demanding nonsense of the TRFC support, but I have massive sympathy for the fact that so many of them have lost and will continue to lose money to this menagerie of chancers and con-artists. These are folk with families. In tight times like these you can’t help but wonder where this money should really be being spent on….

    Oh for just one decent journalist to focus on this lunacy… how the parasites in the SMSM can sleep at night is beyond me.


  38. easyJambo 7th January 2016 at 1:24 pm
    Wow, just wow. I know it’s a move, long predicted on here, and other sites, but basically DCK & his fellow board members are going cap in hand to the punters, for money, just to keep the lights on.
    NOT, empathetically not, to strengthen & secure the club( see what I did there) in the medium to long term, certainly not, as the Hearts fans are currently doing, which is raising finance to eventually have a controlling interest in the business, by buying Ann Budge’s shares, but just handing over cash, to keep a bunch of spivs rolling along.
    A question I’ve asked previously, but isn’t this business technically insolvent, and precisely what is the incentive for all the other Championship clubs to live within their means, play by the rules, when effectively the governing body is allowing them to be shafted in this manner?
    And yet, they still continue to accumulate players and spend money they clearly do not have. I honestly don’t have the vocabulary to express my anger and disdain about the spineless goons, who purport, to run our game for the betterment of ALL of our clubs. 


  39. easyJambo 7th January 2016 at 1:24 pm
    ==========================

    In fairness to JJ, and I have criticised some of his output lately, he did predict this was going to happen quite some time ago.

    He did also say that they couldn’t exactly provide “loans” however if it was sold as the advance purchase of shares then that would probably fit within the remit of the group.

    This reminds me of the old chestnut with regards boiling a frog and how to do it. If you throw it into boiling water it will hop straight back out. However if you put it in lukewarm water then gradually heat it up …

    I suspect if the Rangers support were told what was going to happen, or where they were going to be at this stage then there would have been uproar. Dave King was putting £30m in of the £50m required. There would be overspending on the team if required. It’s not quite panning out that way. They are struggling to get to the season, are £1m short by their own reckoning and are going to the support for half of that … at least.


  40. This is not the purpose for which the money was raised by Rangers First.

    This is a gift in the hope that it will be repaid with equity in the future.  It is not equity.  They ought not to be able to get away with that.


  41. Why not ask the glib one to match it £ for £,surely he can do that,can’t he?


  42. i suspect the reason why King has not really been asked in any great detail about his so called investments (or lack of) is this; if you dont want to know the answer to a question, dont ask the question. 
    King appears to satisfy the Rangers fans criteria of being immensely wealthy and a proper RRM. Now, the evidence so far would indicate that he is…erm…not immensely wealthy. Or possibly a RRM. 

    However, despite the best efforts of many, many people, there is no convincing them. I wish the Rangers fans well in their continued funding efforts. Half a million is a good start. Ten million each season should just about cover any shortfall barring any inconvenient costs like repairs or buying players. Good luck!


  43. Today is the 7th of January. Members of Rangers First have until the 10th of January to vote on an important matter first notified to them today?? Where’s the fire, guys? And can such a vote even be valid? If the requirement for a 75% yes vote is a Companies Act provision, then surely at least 2 weeks notice must be given to members? 
    Even if the vote is legally valid, surely the short notice period indicates a dire emergency at Ibrox. This is truly desperate stuff.


  44. I would also agree that Rangers have not done anything wrong in their pursuit of the Accrington Two. All above board and no rules broken. Probably a case of ‘sour grapes’ as was mentioned earlier.

    Who can forget the dignified manner in which the Rangers fans, management team and boardroom of a club with newly acquired assets in a possibly fraudulent manner reacted to the news that Naismith, Davis and the others would not be joining their adventure in the bottom tier. Walking away in a perfectly legal manner, all above board with no rules broken. 

    I must have imagined the threats of violence, threats of lawsuits and demands for compensation. 

    My bad. 


  45. easyJambo 6th January 2016 at 4:30 pm #

    This other link says they have made a profit while cutting staff.  Obviously a business with financial problems may have to make cuts but this suggests they have made decent adjustments but are throwing out more staff in the hope of even bigger profit – short term possibly will work but long term you need enough quality staff to make the product worth paying for.
    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/09/newsquest-boosts-profits-while-cutting-more-than-220-staff


  46. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35252738

    Rangers v Hibernian: SPFL to discuss sectarian chants By Chris McLaughlinBBC SportSectarian singing heard during Rangers’ match against Hibernian at Ibrox is to be discussed by the Scottish Professional Football League board.
    Chanting from sections of the home support made up part of the league delegate’s report from the Scottish Championship game on 28 December.
    And the matter will be discussed at a meeting on 19 January.
    However, the BBC understands it is unlikely that action will be taken because of current league rules.

    No surprises there, then.


  47. “Rangers First is the 8th largest shareholder in the Club and we remain committed to increasing your shareholding in the Club.”
    The Club? Club? Surely they mean the holding company that owns the company that operates the Club?
    Interesting that the word “club” is mentioned 9 times in the RF statement and RIFC is mentioned only once, in the very last sentence. I wonder why? (Actually, I don’t wonder at all).


  48. neepheid 7th January 2016 at 3:38 pm #Today is the 7th of January. Members of Rangers First have until the 10th of January to vote on an important matter first notified to them today?? Where’s the fire, guys? And can such a vote even be valid? If the requirement for a 75% yes vote is a Companies Act provision, then surely at least 2 weeks notice must be given to members? Even if the vote is legally valid, surely the short notice period indicates a dire emergency at Ibrox. This is truly desperate stuff.
    =============================
    And on the face of it, fans raising funds for their financially distressed club is of course a worthy cause.

    I don’t know anything about ‘Community Interest Companies’ which is what Rangers First is registered as at Companies House.
    However, a very quick look threw up this nugget: “… CICs are less heavily regulated than charities…” 20
    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/dec/01/setting-up-community-interest-company

    But my immediate reaction was: does giving even an interest-free loan to another company not stray into financial services territory, i.e. licensing required? [Might not be relevant under a CIC.]
    Can anyone illuminate ?


  49. amadan 7th January 2016 at 4:07 pm #
    ———————-
    NWS was North West Securities, a finance arm of Bank of Scotland,  hence the Lloyds sale previously mentioned. 


  50. Timings of gifts predicated by courts. Needed for the 18th.


  51. The attached is an extract of the Rangers First 2014 CIC incorporation documents.  The Objects and Powers set out the aims of the CIC and the powers of the directors to act in furtherance of those aims.

    It is worth noting that the Foundation of Hearts decided not to use the CIC model as they felt it was too restrictive once set up, choosing to go down the route of a “Private company limited by guarantee without share capital”, which it was perceived would provide more flexibility.

    I am, however, pleased to see that RF is at least consulting their members with regard to this loan.  I may have something more to say about FoH’s approach to consultation re significant financing decisions in the next few weeks, once Ann Budge reveals her plans for replacing the main stand and its funding.  


  52. essexbeancounter 7th January 2016 at 9:48 am #The Cat NR1 7th January 2016 at 1:41 am  I suspect that EBC is like myself fairly busy at the moment. =============================== Cat…many thanks for your words of mutual support. Things are not too bad…just yet…but no doubt the usual last minute Charlies (no, not that one!) will ultimately decide how frantic things get
    ======
    EBC
    They’re known as the Usual Suspects down (or should that be up?) our way. (Same ones every January, usually in the final week.)
    That seems to fit in quite nicely with the current discussion on here, so not entirely off-topic.


  53. The Cat NR1 7th January 2016 at 6:57 pm #essexbeancounter 7th January 2016 at 9:48 am #The Cat NR1 7th January 2016 at 1:41 am  I suspect that EBC is like myself fairly busy at the moment. =============================== Cat…many thanks for your words of mutual support. Things are not too bad…just yet…but no doubt the usual last minute Charlies (no, not that one!) will ultimately decide how frantic things get======EBCThey’re known as the Usual Suspects down (or should that be up?) our way. (Same ones every January, usually in the final week.)That seems to fit in quite nicely with the current discussion on here, so not entirely off-topic.
    =====================================
    Cat…how true…and to paraphrase the erstwhile highly paid gardener…”we know who you are…and where you live…”


  54. Have I got this right?
    Rangers First are recommending to their members that they lend £500k on the same terms as the current loan of £6.5m
    i.e.
    Interest free
    No security
    Either converted to equity or repayable at the end of 2yrs
    Draw down as required
    Question
    Have RF been told that a £5m loan from RRM was made with no security and would either be converted to equity or repayable at the end of 2yrs with draw down as required?
    Because if they have
    Then
    The AGM statement that £5m had been raised in an hour to repay MA was disingenuous. It implied that some urgent crisis required the Board to repay MA right away
    The statement should simply have said a further £5m in unsecured loans has been raised which was at the disposal of the Board to spend on whatever was deemed necessary
    But it didn`t
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    IMO
    The real aim all along is to assist DCK in his court case by implying(only for the duration of the court case) that  he is the good guy trying to repay a loan and MA is the bad guy who won`t play ball
    The AGM statement kicked off this ploy by pretending a further £5m in unsecured loans had been received when all that really happened was that a £5m loan facility was put in place with unknown( probably onerous) draw down conditions.
    In the unlikely event of MA accepting the conditions attached to repaying the loan, RIFC would keep adding new conditions until MA tells them to get lost. By that time the court case will be over.
    The one fly in the ointment is the gaffe made by the QC in telling the Judge he understood the loan had been repaid. This QC will be livid at being misinformed and has probably insisted the loan be repaid ASAP to maintain his credibility
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    If the above is correct we can expect the following
    1 No statement from either side before the Jan 18 court case on whether or not the loan has been repaid
    2 The RIFC QC to advise the Judge that loan repayment negotiations with SD are ongoing. He may even imply that SD is “being difficult“
    3 Once the loan facility from Rangers First has been put in place it will be used immediately for working capital
    4.None of the £5m loan facility will be drawn down for working capital. This would be because the facility is earmarked solely for repaying the SD loan. Indeed none of it will ever be drawn down. It’s simply a Spiv ploy to get DCK out of a hole
    5. Serious efforts will be made to cut player costs in the January window


  55. Statement o’clock

    http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/rangers-international-football-club-statement-3/

    RANGERS International Football Club plc note Rangers First’s decision to seek approval from its members to offer the Club a loan of £500,000.
    The Club is not considering further loans at this time beyond what has already been committed and announced. However, any offer from Rangers First will be considered as part of any future fund raising.
    Rangers remains committed to forging even closer links with supporters and the Club is working on a new initiative to make this possible. It is hoped all of the Club’s fan groups, including Rangers First, will participate fully in acquiring a larger stakeholding in the company and this initiative by Rangers First could be incorporated into such a proposal.
    It should also be understood that Rangers First was not approached by the Club for funding and, despite what has been incorrectly reported, had no discussion whatsoever with the chairman, Dave King, that their funding, if accepted, would be matched by Mr King.


  56. easyJambo 7th January 2016 at 8:09 pm #Statement o’clock
    http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/rangers-international-football-club-statement-3/

    “…despite what has been incorrectly reported, had no discussion whatsoever with the chairman, Dave King, that their funding, if accepted, would be matched by Mr King.”
    ====================================
    Ha ha ! 
    And the real purpose of the statement became clear in the final, mangled sentence.
    Looks like King was petrified that the bears thought he was going to put his hand in his own pocket as well !
    No chance. 22


  57. It seems Rangers First were giving this impression re Dave King via twitter.


  58. Homunculus 7th January 2016 at 8:33 pm #It seems Rangers First were giving this impression re Dave King via twitter.
    =============================
    Someone is mibbees being economical with the truth then…I wonder whom…? 14


  59. for every £5 you lot give,i’ll give…no you better put the £10 in and i’ll square you up later..01


  60. Allyjambo 7th January 2016 at 12:26 pm #bfbpuzzled 7th January 2016 at 11:50 am # I would be very disappointed if Bumble were not how he appears to be in his public persona- he really comes across a real gentleman with a whole set of eccentricities which add to the sum of human happiness. He is ribbed often about Accrington Stanley He also played for England and coached them so not only has he the engaging personality but the subject knowledge.  is there a Scottish equivalent?  And yes I do follow the England cricket team…_________________________
    As I do, bfb, and it’s only in cricket that I do cheer on England!
    Bumble always gives me the impression of a man who absolutely loves his sport, and sport in general, and hates cheats, though accepts that in the game, itself, it is up to individuals whether or not they walk. But cheating by a club, or country, or collusion to aid/cover up cheating by cricket’s authorities, would be a massive no, no! I’m sure he would demand that everything is aired in the open, and if he was campaigning for honesty and integrity in cricket (if he felt it necessary), regardless of his ‘bumbleness’ he is held in such high regard that there’d be no way anyone could silence him!
    There may be a Scottish equivalent, but in football at least, he would not be allowed free rein to speak as he would wish!
    I’m sure, that if Bumble was able to find the time to read the full story of what Rangers did to Scottish football (and the taxman) (if only someone could send him a copy of ‘Downfall’) and what TRFC are doing now, then every cricket club dressing-room, and every club bar, in every cricketing country in the world, would hear about the ‘Rangers scandal’!
    And right now, he seems to have his dander up
    ==== 
    AJ/BFBP
    Good appraisal of Bumble.
    I too am a big fan of test cricket, and also follow England. my son and i travel from Scotia to attend at least 2 days cricket, usually at headingly, but also old trafford, trent bridge and chester-le-street. not the blood and thunder of fitba, but its relaxing and listening/ watching the beer fuelled barmies enjoy the occasion makes for a great weekend. 
    Anyhows, this is money that will continue to evade the Scottish game (we were both ST holders at Tynecastle). still contribute to FOH, but i await with interest how the future unfolds re our clubs and the governance of OUR game, whether this ‘investment’ will continue.
    Apologies for the digression, but Bumble, is currently a director of Accrington Stanley FC, and an ex-player to boot.. im sure he’d love to talk fitba to SFM.
    http://www.scotsman.com/sport/cricket/changing-room-chat-bumble-on-board-at-accrington-1-2130082
    http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/club-info/


  61. Haha, there’s been a few funny moments since this debacle started, but that backtracking statement from RIFC is hilarious. “Quick, get something, anything, oot so naebody’s expecting me to shell oot!!”
    Who is doing their PR these days?!


  62. I met Auldheid at Waverley station at about noon today,and we made our way to the Scottish Parliament. Unfortunately, the kick-off was not at 12.30 as I had thought, but at 1.00 pm.
    This meant I had to leave the SFSA ‘event’ after the first four (top-table) speakers did their bit, to meet another commitment in Falkirk.At the top table  were Simon Sparrow ( chair, life-long, English-accented Dumbarton supporter)Henry McLeish,former First Minister;Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, and technical ‘host’, andPaul Goodwin, CEO .
    The event was the formal launch of ” Transforming Scottish Football:The Fans’ Manifesto”.
    There were about 30 people in all attending, and one or two press and TV people.
    We were all given an advance (black and white: the glossies will be out later) copy of the Manifesto.
    This lays out 9 key points:RENEW THE Game1. Bring back the fans through competitive pricing and family facilities at every club2. Make football in Scotland media-friendly and innovative at every level3.Re-market the Scottish game, pressing for financial fair shares and transparencyREFORM THE GAME4.Rebuild the game with larger divisions, more variety and improved competition5.Equip every club to be a ‘community hub’ for well-being and entertainment6. Re-invest in Youth through fresh plans for training and educationRECLAIM THE GAME7. A ‘diversity’ drive:25% fan representation on all governing bodies in 5 years,50% women, a permanent place for the National fans’ body8. Regular, independent auditing and review of the performance of governing bodies and clubs9. Extend community and collaborative ownership, create a fans’ right to bid or buy when clubs are for sale, create a fans’ bank or fund
    And the rest of the text is explanatory of what lies behind each of the key points.
    As I mentioned,  I had to miss the discussions on these points ‘
    The one key point I might have commented on is, of course, number 8, if only to get  on record my view that all the other points, whatever value and merit they have in themselves, must relate to a clean, honest, Sport and that we are not at all sure at this juncture that we presently have that, given the way the SFA and the then SFL and SFL failed to deal properly in ‘Sporting’ terms with the consequences of the Liquidation of SDM’s Rangers FC.
    I will wait to see if Auldheid will let us know if the ‘Big Lie’ etc was even hinted at or mentioned as being a running sore that really does need sorted. And then I will write to the CEO, Paul Goodwin, with my observations, before any ‘minutes’ of today’s meeting are published.
    (I should make it clear here,  that I am not at all ‘authorised’ to speak on behalf of SFM , but only on my own personal behalf. I will mention, though,  that I do occasionally contribute my thoughts to this blog)
    The Fans’Manifesto can be found at http://scottishfsa.org/


  63. Thanks for update John Clark(e).

    Had a quick look at the SFSA site, and noticed that on its ‘Advisory Panel’ was one Gordon Waddell of the Daily Record / Sunday Mail, [although to be fair, there seems to be a wide mix of people / volunteers].


  64. With regards the latest statement / debacle regarding Rangers / Rangers First.

    There are only two logical conclusions from the latest club statement.

    1, Dave King won’t put in the £500,000 to match RF

    2, Dave King can’t put in the £500,000 to match RF.

    Either should be rather concerning for the support, as Dave King has already said the club needs £1m to see out the season. Someone else has offered half of that and he won’t / can’t put the other half in.

    Really, who is doing their PR just now, that person is just a clueless embarrassment.


  65. Interesting.
    http://news.sky.com/story/1618721/football-set-for-video-technology-trials
    =============================
    Football Set For Video Technology Trials

    The trials will allow referees to call on video assistance to help determine four categories of “game changing” moments: goals scored, red cards, penalties and mistaken identity.
    Officials will seek at least two seasons of trial data, meaning it could be adopted in the professional game by 2018.

    The Scottish FA would be keen to use trials in the Scottish Cup.
    “It’s something I would like to see pushed forward – if it helps Rangers get back to where they belong ,” said Stewart Regan, the SFA chief executive.”
    =============================
    [OK, I might have added to that last quote above. 14 ]


  66. Transforming Scottish Football
    The Fans Manifesto
    Holyrood Edinburgh 7th Jan

    John Clark and I attended this event this afternoon although John had to leave a bit early which is a pity as he is brilliant at reporting detail. I’m more of a what does it all mean guy?
    Luckily for me though the actual manifesto can be downloaded from
    http://scottishfsa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2016/01/SFSA_The_Fans_Manifesto_A4_20pp_Screen.pdf
    Briefly it contains nine interlocking proposals viz,
    1. ‘Bring Back The Fans Through Competitive Pricing and Family Facilities for Every Club
    2. Make Scottish Football Media -Friendly and Innovative at Every Level
    3. Remarket The Scottish Game Pressing For Financial Fair Shares And Transparency
    4. Rebuild The Game with Larger Divisions, More Variety and Improved Competition. 
    5. Equip Every Club to Be a ‘Community Hub’ for Wellbeing and Entertainment
    6. Re-invest in Youth Through Fresh Plans for Training and Education.
    7. A Diversity Drive;: 25% Fan Representation On All Governing Bodies in Five Years, 50% women, a Permanent Place for The National Fans Body.
    8. Regular, Independent  Auditing and Review of The Performance of Governing Bodies and Clubs.
    9. Extend Community and Collaborative Ownership, Create a Fan’s Right to Bid or Buy When Clubs are for Sale, Create a Fans’ Bank or Fund.
    More detail can be obtained from the document at the link and there is quite a lot there to attract interest across the Scottish Football Monitoring spectrum. 
    The most obvious area of common interest for SFM is in points 3 and 8 where this from point 8 says it all:
    “When asked to rate the overall performance of the SFA, the majority score was just 4. And when asked  to rate the overall performance of the SPFL, the majority score was slightly lower at 3.  (So Regan is more popular than Doncaster? :)). The gulf between those who run football and those who love it and pay for it is far too wide to be healthy, which is why substantial reform in the boardrooms and throughout the governing bodies is in their interest, the fans’ interest , and the interest of Scottish football as a whole””
    (If John Clark had not had to leave I would have asked him when he wrote that 🙂 )
    Henry McLeish commented on the disaster for the game that has resulted from the absence at Rangers FC of points 3 Transparency and of course Point 8 Independent Auditing . The two words he used verbatim were “Transparency” and “Accountability” and it was actually good to hear Mr McLeish, who has some authority in Government and dealings with the SFA, actually say what we have been saying here because that means there may be a way for SFM to help take that part of the manifesto forward at an appropriate level subject to  further discussion.
    That is not to suggest of course other contributors cannot pursue their own particular interests from an SFM base, the resources, experience and expertise to draw on hereis well recognised by the SFSA.
    Finally I was very encouraged to hear the Chairman of The SFSA Simon Barrow say that this was a task of changing mind-sets, helping folk to view things in a different way.
    That to me means sharing skills, thoughts, words and experiences in dialogue and I think SFM is pretty good at that but  as I’m buggering off to Spain in a week or two (BP’s words mods) I’ll be mostly leaving what happens next in the coming months in his and others capable hands. but not bowing out.


  67. I don’t know if either were rhetorical but both Nawlite and Homunculus have asked about the RIFC PR this evening.  Rumour has it that it is the “48 hour blazer” Chris Graham or as he is widely known in the world of Twitter the “Shitus Touch”


  68. More PR p!sh from the DR;

    “Brentford have rejected a bid from Rangers for Toumani Diagouraga.Former Bees boss Mark Warburton returned to his old club to try and snare the French defensive midfielder.However, the Championship club have turned down the approach from the Ibrox side…”
    =================
    Apparently Brentford received a tip off that they might have trouble cashing in the TRFC bid of 100 crates of Irn Bru ‘returnable’ bottles…   09

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