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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Tricloured, Johnny Russell at 750 grand should have been a no brainer unless we did enquire and he said no as his preference was to go down the road.
When Charlie Austin was doing the business at Swindon was when a move should have been made.
How Steve Bruce must feel now. Austin is the highest scoring English player in the EPL so far this season and Hull can’t buy a goal.
Lloyd Cole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JL3rcYKhT1k
Rattlesnakes HH
It’s tough being a Celic supporter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GkVhgIeGJQ
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS,
Telly and Celtic supporters are mutually exclusive it seems :O(…
Hail Hail.
ESPN the now has a college American football match on being played at the famous Idaho potato bowl.
What a name for a stadium.
Orange Juice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ESy-Z8vqMrE
HH
Charlie Nic was one of my first Celtic heroes.
1st was Kenny & 2nd was Danny.
In later years many more followed, Paul McStay, Big Roy, Davie Provan in the same team as Charlie, TB, Henrik & Lubo.
Charlie meant the world to me.
At secondary school when he was in his pomp for us.
I thought we had the best young player in the world .
My Dad took me to all the games when I was a young lad , maybe up to I was 11 or 12 when he was laid off.
A great friend of his, Peter took me then on the bus for a year or 2.
Peter was the type of mhan that would follow the hoops anywhere and when he spoke about Celtic u listened.
Evans had been his favourite player but he loved Charlie.
Ironically when Charlie played in that famous 4-2 win at Ibrox Peter died a few hours before on the morning of the match, ravaged by cancer.
I’ve always associated Charlie Nic leaving with Peters death in a strange kinda way.
One things for sure both devestated me at the time.
Bitter sweet memories of Charlie Nic but I bet underneath he’s still the same wee ghuy , Celtic’s his team.
Hail Hail Peter
Badabing
CN certainly had something.
That guile, did he just dae that sort o thing!!
Maybe should have went to Liverpool at that time.
I still think of wasted talent, though he cut a quite successful career with arsenal and modirn meeja.
What a player at his peak and what an eye for goal for hoops
:-)
HH
dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
00:57 on 21 December, 2014
Tricloured, Johnny Russell at 750 grand should have been a no brainer unless we did enquire and he said no as his preference was to go down the road.
When Charlie Austin was doing the business at Swindon was when a move should have been made.
How Steve Bruce must feel now. Austin is the highest scoring English player in the EPL so far this season and Hull can’t buy a goal.
……..
No excuse for it whatsoever.
Austin’s goalscoring record was staring everybody in the face.
But not the overpaid clowns scouting Celtic strikers.
fred c. dobbs
I’ve gotta a telly.
And I’m a Celtic supporter.
Fully paid up Fenian licence holder soamur!
HH jamesgang
jamesgang,
Wrong side of the camera though :O).
Hail Hail.
Charlie Nicholas. Brilliant player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
Tricoloured, Austin had a good partnership at Swindon with a chap called Paynter but I may be wrong. They scored most of Swindon’s goals at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4WyChNh_p-E
Good Morning Britain
Aztec Camera
thepastissteepedinshameCSC
utlr
Omacelt, I cherish Charlie’s time with us as a player but his media persona regarding us over the last ten years or so has really peed me off.
Roy Croppie
Here’s a couple from some guy who wants to be you when he grows up!!!
For you!!!
http://youtu.be/F0wkO0aTtec
http://youtu.be/VL6sdaspq0c
HH jamesgang
I missed this story
http://m.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/tony-watt-s-standard-liege-future-already-in-doubt-1-3637569
To think there was so much hysteria over us letting Tony go.
Pukki seems to have done a bit better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=_iYqWtIm0zI
Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham 6
HH
Hipsway
That’s the Bhoy home…night Bhoys.
Hail Hail.
Up The Rhebels!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5FCdx7Dn0o&list=PL-xUQA4YCNquDexJVjFtcTGhfgcBnQC9e
dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
01:09 on 21 December, 2014
Tricoloured, Austin had a good partnership at Swindon with a chap called Paynter but I may be wrong. They scored most of Swindon’s goals at the time.
………
Aye spot on pal Paynter.
Tell you another who would have bagged goals galore for Celtic.
Billy Sharp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=M2SphRP_OG0
Highland PADDY
Jamesgang love you to bits HH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1maOiysZe-4
Rock on Rockall
HH
Gordon64
22:31 on 20 December, 2014
Celtic
If you know your history.
The greatest football club ever.
_______________________________
That is an incredible statement, I believe it to be true as well.
James Connolly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iYH5h-5Dz40
HeroCSC
There are a plethora of uncut diamonds who were tailored made for Celtic in lower British leagues,yet we wasted millions in signing useless duds recommended by Park.
Get him out the door now.
The best striker on our books bar none now is Leigh Griffiths.
Had he started the season he would have netted 35 come the end.
You reading Ronny?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sR8gi_gWy4M
The Boys of the old Brigade
ifyouknowthehistoryCSC
A song to our Our Lady.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyYv80hibTw&list=PL069F2265825274E4&index=3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAQfJ5AZRyk&list=RDsR8gi_gWy4M&feature=player_detailpage
Sean South
HH
roy croppie
01:18 et al
Very seldom do I go back through the blog, but you’ve performed a virtuoso performance over several hours from what I’ve seen on a quick scan.
I’m going to have to rise early to see some of it before mass in the morning. Thanks very much.
Do you take requests? CCW, “Let the midnight special shine a light on me” is an evocative listen around the witching hours. I would post it if I knew how to do so.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5E9oDdCEAAI7y1.jpg
Not long now big chap…
nostrangertoafishsupperCSC
dallas,dallas,
Are you from Drumchapel originally?
That doesn’t read correctly. Should’ve been CCR, Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Time for bed.
God bless you all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ucw0twciNGk
Glittering Prize
HH
roy croppie
01:28 on 21 December, 2014
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5E9oDdCEAAI7y1.jpg
Not long now big chap…
nostrangertoafishsupperCSC
……….
Roy,
Did anybody ever substantiate who Rab Ingoose is?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5E9oO9IMAAgKfZ.jpg
hh
Rab Ighoose even? Haha