Tuesday’s Telegraph suggested Mike Ashley is about to increase his shareholding in newco to 29.9% via a share issue, in contravention of his agreement with the SFA on multiple ownership. This morning the club informed the stock market the Ashely’s appointee, Derek Llambias, is now chief executive.
The key passage in the Telegraph article is:
“There is no certainty of anything like unanimous approval, but many in the higher reaches of the Scottish game acknowledge that a revived Rangers, capable of resuming the Old Firm rivalry and renewing the club’s presence in Europe would make Scotland more attractive to broadcasters and league sponsors, with general benefits.”
This has almost certainly come from the same kind of club source which in another lifetime were assuring journalists that HMRC would agree to a CVA; I know for sure the SFA are far from ready to rubber-stamp an Ashley land grab.
There are a few points which, despite blanket coverage of this issue, are not getting a proper hearing:
At current trading levels, Ashley is earning around £4m p.a. from newco as their retail ‘partner’. He is also their exclusive wholesaler, so the club is worth even more to him, let’s say £5m p.a. in total.
Anyone who tells you his financial pay-off is through having newco wear his branding on a European stage is either wholly compliant in an attempt to mislead newco fans, or is simply regurgitating information handed to them by PR agents, without the wherewithal to digest the information correctly.
He’s making £5m per year and he therefore has an interest in ensuring the club continues in its current condition.
The second issue is around the legality of multiple-ownership. It is not against Uefa rules (you can simply comply by one club not competing) but does breach rules in Scotland and England. I recommend not getting too hung-up on this point. In the event he was asked to disinvest from one of his clubs, Ashley could with pull a Blue Pitch Holdings/Margarita stroke.
For all you know about those two newco investors, I could own them. It’s a paper exercise for Ashley to move his ownership beyond the reaches of oversight, and there is nothing in the rules to prevent this.
The question for the SFA, and eventually the FA, is what level of Ashley’s influence, not ownership, they are comfortable with. There are no guidelines on this point.
A further consideration is that whoever briefed the Telegraph at the start of the week is likely to have painted a scenario that without Ashley’s next bung, newco is likely to go the way of oldco. This is far from certain.
If all newco need to survive another season is circa £8m it’s not a figure beyond the realms of possibility for some of the blowhards who have been trying to disrupt Ashley’s strategy in recent months.
My hunch is that the SFA and newco’s fans will be presented with a fait accomply – it’s Ashley or bust. What is certain is that the club will be vastly more inhibited by Ashley milking it dry than with a unifying figure. He has the makings of a memorable Ibrox owner, a true heir to Sir David Murray.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Magners ticket competition yesterday – and who donated to Mary’s Meals. The answer to the question, who do we play on 27 December, is Ross County, which proved to be trickier than I thought. Draw will be made this afternoon and winner informed thereafter.
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Bolton have lost their young striker for the season….mibbees we could loan them one of ours…..be great experience and a possible game at Wembley
Blantyretim….i sure hope not….i said all the explayers who came out in the media supported nein.
Correct me if im wrong…but i never saw one player or explayer come out for YES….list of no”s ….mcneil macavennie mcgarvie …Yes….dont know any….
BT
Maybe if you got a round in , noo n again , people might come back mer oaftin ;))
the glorious balance sheet
Here we go again.
We worked with Joe Miller in Stirling 3 weeks before he said something you disagree with. Yet we should have anticipated he was going to say it so should not have worked with Joe. Crazy argument.
Sipsini
Just back in and seen your post.
Started taking the twins early seventies and my old memory cells
barely remembers the ghuy you are talking about but my mate
took over and still commentates for the blind party to this day.
H.H Mick
It was late 60s early 70s, the old grey matter no the may west.
HH
BT
a fan./supporter./legend
Gentleman
John’s first Celtic success came in the Scottish Cup final of 1965 which Celtic won 3-2. A Celtic man through and through John was seen swinging wildly on the crossbar at the Kings Park (Celtic) end as he celebrated Billy McNeill’s dramatic last minute winner,
HAIRS HAIRS
on my neck
the glorious balance sheet
I know WC, hes a decent man and a Celtic supporter.
I read your posts and although I’ve never met you I know that you’d end up buying me a pint :-)
You’re so right in what you’re saying, CQN, despite what it offers us, is not the Celtic support.
I sometimes get annoyed by posts on here but then I think of my da and remenber that he’d probably agree with many of our ‘older’ posters.
Gooooooooooooooooood night all
May you be granted the strength to deal with what ever comes your way.
Hail Hail & KTF
Just back from picking up Mrs m ( teacher) from a straitfae-she seems ” tired and emotional” now tucking into a lovely wee Japanese malt ( yakamatsi) voted best malt of the year … Think that’s me on the ACGR banned list :)) hh
PF
good point
never ask a question if you don’t know the answer
I ought to have known it wasn’t Moshni anyway, the motor was too nice. The company cars down Govan way these days are re-bored Simcas not nice big Merc jeeps.
Did you do the Orange walk in the Alps this year with all your Hun pals? Wee Macca settling into retirement with appropriate dignity?
The Glorious Balance Sheet
I heard wee Joe last night, I wasn’t on CQN, I was doing the dishes, it does disappoint me a little bit when a lot of our ex-players don’t say what we all think, but wee Joe not getting hounded by bam pots or no media work just to make me happy is no skin off my nose, the main thing is we know and we can keep saying it, as I typed before I should have taken your name out of the response it was WCs words I agreed with and nothing to do with the person or conversation he was responding too
Blantyretim, I have had a beer in Craig’s as well, watching the horses, but ma big mucker fae over there has never taken me to KOSC….. I will try and bend his ear, we usually at least make a wee day out during March for the nags
Geordie munro
If Lenny gets them up to the premiership in the next two seasons maybe even this one he will be in demand and a bigger club will come calling as he has proved himself outside the circus of Scottish football.
Has Steven Gerrard had a testimonial yet ? Would like to hear the Fields of Athenry sung with the right words for a change at Anfield
BT
I have,unfortunately,been in the company of ex-Celtic players who wish the Huns were back.
If it wasn’t that I was an invited guest I would’ve let them know what I thought of them,though I think they got the message,by my body language .
Fair dues to BT Senior .KTF it is ours.
johann murdoch
22:22 on
19 December, 2014
aw right for u i am talking Japanese
vinocfc
TET
he is and was a fan, pays to sit with the fans always pay for them, goes with the away fans and gets treated like fans. He sits with fans and takes abuse from police and Celticfans.
when did thd board, etc ever sit with the fans..
BT
I see your dad at most away games. That alone sets him apart from the rest mate.
melbourne mick,
His name was Albert Young, probably away with the Celtic Angels by now. HH
Yamazaki !
Sippin on a wee Aberlour A’ Bunadh. Nectar from the very heavens
About to retire but see the mention of, imo, the most important win in my time watching Celtic: the 65 Cup Final. Big Billy’s header from Charlie Gallagher’s corner will forever be played and replayed in my mind’s eye. It will always lift my heart.
It was the beginning of the best ever times to be a Celtic supporter, for my generation.
Night all.
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
If you are ever at CQN corner turn your head slightly and you are sure to see the Legend that is John Fallon.
fanadpatriot
22:24 on
19 December, 2014
BT
I have,unfortunately,been in the company of ex-Celtic players who wish the Huns were back.
mm at end to think who that can be but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
all the lads i have been in the pleasure to be with want them FECKED FECKED ill tell you
HH
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
22:26 on 19 December, 2014
TET
he is and was a fan, pays to sit with the fans always pay for them, goes with the away fans and gets treated like fans. He sits with fans and takes abuse from police and Celticfans.
when did thd board, etc ever sit with the fans..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every Celt is =
Nothing else to be said.
Winning Captains 2220-
I made my point clearly last night that Joe Miller had previous form for making Sevco-friendly comments in pieces of lazy journalism in the SMSM long before last month. To illustrate my point I referenced these articles last night:-
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-star-joe-miller-3112916
http://www.scotsman.com/mobile/sport/football/latest/we-need-an-old-firm-cup-final-says-joe-miller-1-3294554
You either missed or ignored them. In summary Joe has said previously that a Celtic-Rangers Scottish Cup final in 2014 would be “the perfect thing”, that it would give the Scottish game “a wee boost.”
So my argument is not crazy. Its my view, and people will either disagree or agree with it. I could as easily call decrying Rangers-friendly lazy journalism and then using purveyors of same lazy journalism to sell books as crazy but I`m a bit politer than that; I call it inconsistent.
We clearly don`t agree on this so best to leave it at that.
gerryfaethebrig
The KOSC is’nt all it’s cracked up to be
Earlier this year their best barman
Flounced..eh !! Chucked it ..downhill since then mate ;))
bgx and fanad
maybe its because he has his own mind he isn’t invited to Celtic nights..
the nafcsc will have a night next year, guess what, JF was there at he first, he got mccluskey deans and wee lenny to come and make it what it is.
he can’t get an invite now because those whom he got an invite are now only interested in themselves. ..
did you know that Dixie now wants to be called John.,
what a fpig..
Leftie
And so often in Aberdeen or Perth or Dingwall I’ve turned around and he’s there too.
His son’s anugget though :-)
Not for everyone, more for those that are slowly chilling on their Friday night.
Not a quiz, more a mission from God. Tunes with ‘Soul’ in the title….I will kick it off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEMpIrC6OQA
John Fallon had though the privilege of playing in the great Alfredo Di Stefano’s testimonial match in Celtic’s famous 1-0 win and had a marvellous game in the Bernabeau, in June 1967.
Dream Dream
If Only it was me ….
Bustybhoy
Well,I don’t know the ones you have met,but the ones I have ,have been media friendly..BTW I never said it was a pleasure.
If you are in doubt.I want them truly FECTE
Marspapa
my friends.
know what i only deal in the truth…
im away because im not in the mood for lies..,
Blantyretim…point i was making was that the media know what explayers to ask when they already know that the answer they will get will be what they want….any explayer who doesnt comply with the ” we miss sevco”…wont be asked….same as the referendum….YES supporters need not apply….
BT
I know.
The only board member, or ex board member I have met is Brian Quinn, only for a short time, he seemed decent enough, didn’t really have enough time to talk Celtic, so can’t say.
As for the rest, you know my feelings.
Take care hermano
HH
bgx
you said that they played for Celtic and then they where nothing.
my father goes home and away because he ls a fan..
BT/
BGX
Why not have a night oot in the company of all the LIONS .that might change BGX
to love the past.
marspapa
22:33 on 19 December, 2014
gerryfaethebrig
The KOSC is’nt all it’s cracked up to be
Earlier this year their best barman
Flounced..eh !! Chucked it ..downhill since then mate ;))
Am fae Coatbrig….any barman that serves you is the best
BT
Before you go.,the truth like the cream will always rise to the top.KTF it’s makes us different .