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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dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
23:20 on 20 December, 2014
Hibs of the early seventies were a good team with the likes of John Brownlie, the majestic Pat Stanton, Alex Cropley, Alex Edwards, Jimmy O’Rourke, Alan Gordon, Arthur Duncan, and they should have done better but didn’t as we were stronger at that time.
Eddie Turnbull, from all accounts, was a real b.
Nice to see Stevie Murray being mentioned another of our underrated players, It was sad his career ended prematurely when he had a toe amputated..
…………..
I read Turnbull’s book.Having a Ball.
An absolute mouthpiece who thought he was on a par with big Jock incidentally.
Alex Edwards for me was the pick of the players you mention Dallas.
Terrific wee player who I would have loved Celtic to sign
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=x2KRpRMSu4g
Baba O’Riley
The Who
Kano,
We have never spoken, but I did send you birthday wishes last week
I am just heading to bed, and will keep you in my prayers
I will also add you to Cowie Sacred Heart roll of Honour on the candle rack :-)
Hail Hail
the ole days
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4cKCsmCYAA6JA7.jpg:large
HH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5J3gX47rHGg
Waterloo Sunset
HH
eddieinkirkmichael
Magic from Charlie that day never seen a whole defence fooled like that anywhere ever best of all it was v the huns :)
HH
marrakesh express
23:22 on 20 December, 2014
Tricoloured ribbon
We can forget just how good Celtic were at that time, in overcoming Aberdeen and Hibs.
Celtic were a top 8 team in Europe 71-74 (at least), and these teams under Bonthrone and Turnbull pushed us very close.
……
Absolutely pal.
Think it’s worth remembering too that in the early sixties Hearts,Dundee,Kilmarnock and Dunfermline were terrific sides who more than held their own in Europe.
Changed days and it’s sad pal.
Vim, I don’t know if its because of their media jobs but they were big Celtic fans when they were younger but just seem to like being negative about us for whatever reason.
Both left Celtic for the second time about a year after Fergus came in I’m unsure if something happened to both when they left to influence their attitude to us now.
Kano
Yer In my thoughts and prayers
Y,N.W.A
THE RAVEN
If you were ten Orr eleven then,we’re about the same age.
Happy days,winning every week,watching greatness,lemonade and crisps outside the pub.
Ten years later I introduced my kid sis to pretty much the same. Only we didnae quite win every week.
Didnae matter. She got Celtic first time of asking,got the bug and kept it.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3rir0gCMAAtuyj.jpg:large
when Charlie was our darling…
HH
Simon & Garfunkel – The Boxer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3LFML_pxlY
&
Homeward Bound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z9wd9bS1FM
Love this
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3rY7SzIAAAjt_w.jpg:large
HH
Roy Croppie
Whit a great pic, arriving at Tannadice
Played with and against a lot of very good players,Charlie was at a different level,his touch and balance unbelievable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9hUy9ePyo6Q
sound of silence
favouritesongeverCSC
roy croppie
You are a credit
To this blog,
Our club,
and yourself .
be proud my friend
good night all
Just saw on sky sevco news the penalty award St Johnstone got today. From the tv angle it looked a blatant dive.
If it is proved it was a dive will the St Johnstone players be as appalled as they were when Derk was accused of diving and the media call for retrospective action? Highly unlikely.
Nice to see Messi score two goals with his right foot today. The media down south are always on about him never using his right foot despite scoring fifty goals with it.
Last week, Frank Lampard, scored with his left foot, only his fourth with that foot in the last four years. No mention of him, by the media down south, being very one footed
Roy
Frank’s goal that day is the best headed goal I can recall.
leftie
bloody hell, thank you
Come on you Bhoys in GREEN :))
hh
Merry Christmas everyone.
‘Remember no man is a failure
who has friends’.
Clarence Peabody angel 2nd class
http://www.youtube.cm/watch?v=mrmUipa1kc4
For Kano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfgqi-UahE8
bmc
——-
lemonade ? cola n crisps for me ,
u musta been well off to buy lemonade lol
me n bro did it to ma bhoy n nephew one game ,
they ootside pub , we feedin em juice , crisps etc
while we had few swallys , as u do !
wee bassas shopped us to their gran !
wee ootside pub while ma dad n uncle in pub
lets say ma maw no amused
but great mems of goin to games in those days
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5VK1NRIUAANLXE.jpg:large
Limerick v Celtic
1970
HH
Nicholas as a player for us …ONE of the best young players i ever saw…as a man…a snake….his involvment(knowingly) with a well known north glasgow gang family says it all….guys a dog….
dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
23:26 on 20 December, 2014
Vim fuego, I was right behind the goals when he scored that New Years day. He was a hero but the only thing he does for me now, is annoy.
…….
You must have been close to me then Dallas.
Always remember that day.
There was a guy sitting next to me dying with a hangover and he produced a half bottle from his inside pocket and asked me could I go a swally.
I didn’t have to be asked twice.The lad was from Renfrew.Will never forget that.
http://youtu.be/7h5Xmu4_HbE
Here are the highlights from that day.
LEFTCLICKTIC
The Boxer is such a gentle little ballad. Totally disguising the anger and frustration in its lyrics,which come through in the drum repeat.
Also,IIRC,Homeward Bound was written in Wigan!
Roy, as much as I don’t hold Charlie Nick in high regard, he has said on sky, Danny was the best player he ever played with.
Danny Wilson
Mary’s Prayer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7hqgC3W9GUI
HH
!!bada bing!!
23:45 on 20 December, 2014
Played with and against a lot of very good players,Charlie was at a different level,his touch and balance unbelievable.
…..who did ye play with mate,if ye don’t mind me asking?
leftclicktic
21:16 on 20 December, 2014
Flogging Molly – If I Ever Leave This World Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVPTu4l6OnE
——–
So Leftie Bhoy.
You only go and play Janice’s favourite tune for her! No wonder she thinks so much of lovely Patrick!
Roy Croppie
Yer some banana so you are. A breath of fresh air. Appreciated by all.
Kano.
KTF our thoughts and prayers are with you.
HH jamesgang
Tricloured, two pals, one of them’s dad and myself, were right behind the left hand stanchion, if you faced the goals. My pal’s dad was going wild even more than us
A great day out. I remember when they equalised, the current Motherwell assistant manager, was giving it big time to us.
exslaemuirbhoy
dens park is located on dens road, tannadice is on tannadice st.
if you don’t like the midden stay away I am sure Dundee tims would appreciate.
you are a hun frek off..
THE RAVEN
Lemonade was from the bar,put out FOC for watering down the spirits.
60% water already,so my Dad reckoned…
Got to state my admiration for the posts by Roy Croppie tonight.
Such a change from the dispiriting and tedious bitching earlier today.
One of my favourite lines in the Celtic songbook is “come on Glasgow Celtic, stand up and play the game”. Quite a few posters here seem to find every reason not to support the club in person because something is not to their liking. We all wish we lived in a perfect world but, if our forebears had deserted the club in much more difficult times, I doubt we would have a club today never mind being the leading club in Scotland and we’ll respected in world football.
From now on I will refer to them as The Fireside Faithfull.
Prayers will be for Kano tonight.
EXSLAEMUIRBHOY
Nae wunner ye had to emigrate fae the Port tae yon hun-hole in Irvine,eh?
Lucky for you St Stivs disnae know…
We’ll = well
Nicholas saying to his pal White that Celtic fans would be eating chips while singing The Fields of Athenry was the point of no return for him as far as I’m concerned. Oh how they both laughed :O(.