So what did you make of Dave King’s “compete with some of the bigger clubs, particularly Celtic” news conference?
He’s hoping to make a managerial appointment “within a week” which, despite the need to rebuild the squad, is a little ahead of where I expected him to be based on the feedback I know he received from those who were sounded out.
Punters and media seem convinced Warburton will be appointed. I know nothing about the man, but I’ve assumed Stuart McCall would get the job due to all other candidates having a real job, or better prospects. As McCall said in his TV interview following his Fir Park capitulation, he knows what is required and has experience at shopping for free transfers in the English lower leagues. Anyone else is an unnecessary risk so I’m still inclined to think McCall will get it.
A 5% increase in season ticket costs is on the lower end of what I expected, but there’s a subtext with this one (there often is). A key aim of whoever has been in charge at Ibrox over the last three years is to get season ticket prices back to the level they were when Ticketus “over-invested” (caveat over-investors).
Charles Green planned to do this from the off. The script was to read: “I’ve saved your club. Now I’m going to put a £50k p.a. pay cap on and I need you to buy 40,000 season tickets at full price, to ensure we glide up the leagues with ease and arrive in the SPL with money in the bank”. The players and manager would have had a choice, show you’re here for the badge, not the money, or move on.
But, within a week, King and the Blue Knights wanted the assets off Green. McCoist and others were mobilised into destabilising Charlie, who was forced to cut prices, over-promise and ultimately under-deliver.
If I was King yesterday, I’d have looked the camera in the eye and told fans “This is your time, your club needs every last one of you to step forward and pay £600 per ticket”. I’m sure he wanted to do this, but he seemed riddled self-doubt, contrasting starkly with the effusive confidence he radiated before the last EGM. It made me think of the Woody Allen line, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem”.
One thing I am sure of is, if he was about to splash the kind of cash he talked about while trying to remove the old board, he would have put his money on the table and asked fans to do the same.
The trade-off King referred to: the more money fans put in the less he (and other investors) need to put in, is not actually a trade-off at all. In reality, the more money he puts in now, the more fans will buy season tickets; the less he invests, the less fans will spend. Momentum, or the lack thereof, is at play.
This matter was King’s biggest failure. Charles Green and the master, David Murray, knew how to use show-biz to put bums on seats at Ibrox. Yesterday the stage was set for a bit of showmanship: “Here’s the colour of my money, now roll-up, roll-up, get your tickets before they’re all gone”. Say it confidently, convince the thousands desperate to be convinced, and you give yourself the best chance of success.
My focus would have been different from King’s too. Forget about catching Celtic, fans know this is a pipe dream. What they want most of all is a solvent, top-flight, football team. Don’t even reference football targets, instead, talk about filling the stadium, paying the bills, building a trading history good enough to earn proper facilities, and never again signing-off an unsustainable business plan. The fans are Not. All. Daft. Educate them the value of living within your means and they would buy into the project.
Talk about catching Celtic with an unsustainable business plan is astonishing, after all these people have come through, simply astonishing.
I could never quite figure how, for years, Rangers directors knew HMRC were contesting their EBTs, knew a legal challenge lay ahead, but made no provisions whatsoever for that challenge. Win or lose the case, they needed a plan to cope with each scenario. It turned out they didn’t even have a plan to cope with a partial win.
King’s ‘someone will step in and pay if we over-invest’ outlook on life explains a lot. It will be for others to judge his contribution to the lives of Rangers Football Clubs, as far as I’m concerned, it’s impossible to overestimate what he’s done to them. You could say, it’s off the radar!
Spirit of Compassion – Whisky Tasting
On the 25th April, Nepal was rocked by a destructive earthquake which has claimed the lives of over 8,000 people. Many of those affected by death and destruction are children. Glasgow the Caring City is our city’s charity for children in crisis, in times of disaster. Together with House With A Heart, Nepal, we will bring stability and comfort to children left orphaned by this tragedy.
On Thursday 18th June Glasgow the Caring City are hosting a Whisky Tasting event, fun and educational, at the Trades Hall of Glasgow. Tickets are £30 and can be bought here.
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The Celts Are Here
Ogilvie away yet?
3rd?
BobbyM
I well remember the night we signed Mo Bangura.
Lenny didn’t have a clue about his signing, he had been in Portugal scouting Diwara, he got home to the Bangura fiasco.
There are countless other players who the coaches didn’t know about.
Not saying it’s a bad thing, it’s they way most non brit clubs do business, it’s sensible imo, you can’t replace the playing staff every time you change the coach.
I find it quite incredible that intellingent supporters can’t see that we have been on this path for some time, and that the coach has little input as to whom is signed.
HH
whereof we do not know….we may not speak….
looking forward to Friday,s Gazebo fest……
braw
joe filippis haircut 10:35
A very magnanimous post and testimony to your generosity of spirit.
Keep being the decent man you come across on here as being.
Have a nice day.
Whisky tasting and I’m on holiday
Nooooooo
I came in from work late last night and watch Glibby’s interview with a shake of the head and quiet pushing myself at the computer, these clowns really do never learn and why oh why Glibby do you feel you always have to mention us, is your hatred of us what drives you to such unfounded blibber – blabber about what you’re gonny dae…aye we’re quaking in our boots mate…
Enjoy the Journey…
‘It puts the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again.’
Dave King.
a braw insight from big mike,s new hireling Jack Irvine…allegedly….
from TSFM
……………………….
The Sports Direct ‘facility’ was carefully crafted to ensure that Ashley would not be exposed by a hostile takeover. I and many others have commented on the securities on the fixed assets, but I have seen no comment on the Floating Charge. This charge is on all assets and all revenue. Therefore as soon as the new board are in default on 22 June, irrespective of any votes, Ashley could ring fence the first £5M of the ST income in an action raised at The Court of Session. However, should his resolution have the support of the majority of shareholders, he would have the authority to remove every office bearer from RIFC.
This Kenny is why he is watching the unsecured loans with intent. It proves that the £5M quantum was available to the new board. Having access to the funds and not paying debts will not be well received in court.
Furthermore, the new board are culpable for not acting in the best interests of shareholders when RIFC was removed from the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market. The culpability of the new board was compounded by the failure of the OTC share exchange scheme, which had no uptake. There is a causal link between the failure of the OTC exchange and the new board’s inability to satisfy the criteria required by the ISDX Plus exchange.
So what we have is a board who have, through their negligence, incompetence or malfeasance, not acted in the best interests of shareholders. Ashley, as an activist shareholder, will act to protect his investment of 8.92% and in his capacity as CEO of MASH, the holding parent of Sports Direct plc.
Kenny, Ashley is a man of few words. He is also a man of his word. By calling an EGM we can conclude that he has been following the current paper trail with intent. If the current loans are being made subject to a ‘side letter’ agreement of an equity swap, this is corporate malfeasance. Directors can be arrested and imprisoned should this be proven.
On your second point Kenny, in regard to MICROmega, it’s as clear to me, as the land grab is to you, that this will be one of the options that King, and his fellow fake accountant/partner in crime, Iain Gregory Morris (The Greg), will be looking at.
MICROmega has acquired numerous small underfunded companies in South Africa.
King and Morris are not business angels. Between them they own 100% of the equity. King, through a family trust (naturally) owns 78% of the equity.
Given that no UK exchange would accept any company with a convicted criminal as its Chairman, should King wish to raise money from the fans to invest in Rangers, he could engage in a takeover of RIFC/TRFCL for a nominal sum and an equity swap in MICROmega shares. With majority control, King could then engage in an IPO in The MICROmega Holdings Group to ostensibly raise money for Rangers.
Another acquisition would be used by King & Morris to further enhance the MHG share price. They would then quietly dump the shares to raise as much as possible, this time paying Capital Gains Tax. The shares would be worthless. Rangers would be forced into administration.
Any company King encounters or creates is an opportunity to enrich himself to the pecuniary disadvantage of others.
Rangers owe him £20M, minus the BDO payment. He will do whatever it takes to recoup his losses. Burning Rangers fans will come easily to him.
Goodbye to to cheat.
Ogilvie
HH
Said it before, but is Schalke’s Leroy Sane out of our league , does any one know??
KINGLuBO
Sandman
12:11 on
9 June, 2015
‘It puts the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again.’
Dave King.
Brilliant :-)
Hail Hail.
Sandman
12:11 on
9 June, 2015
‘It puts the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again.’
Dave King.
………………………
braw….fingernails embedded in the Gazebo….
smalldogbarkingcfc
braw
the battered bunnet
12:08 on 9 June, 2015
BMCUW
Things change from time to time in any business, and I don’t know the precise details of the process during the summer of 2013 when these guys were signed, but I do know that there is a long-standing process at Celtic whereby:
Youth Players are the responsibility of the Youth Academy. The Head of Academy has an authority limit of £75,000. Anything more than that requires approval from the Manager.
First team players are the responsibility of the Manager. The Manager sets out the type of players he wants to sign, and the Scouting team bring together a list of players who fit the bill.
The Manager makes his decisions, negotiations proceed, and the CEO signs off on the contracts.
John Park, at that time, had an authority limit of £75,000. I’m not aware that this has changed.
The Scouting people identified them as fitting Lenny’s description. Lenny signed ‘em all. His judgement, his players, his budget.
Eg:
– I want a Wayne Rooney type of forward.
– Check out Gary Hooper
– That’s the one. Peter!
Quite what the Spec was for the three Amidos is another question altogether.
~~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fair enough,mate. Thanks for that. I don’t think any of them were good enough,so I simply hope that our signing criteria for forwards has changed.
All of the ones you mentioned-and a few others-could have rivalled Rafael Scheidt as our biggest waste of money this century.
Which takes a bit of doing.
CosyCornerBhoy/ BMCUW
Congratulations to Paddy on acheiving his first.Well done that mhan.
we learn we improve :-)
hail hail
THEEXILEDTIM
Pretty much how I recall it being reported at the time too,mate.
‘Look the camera in the eye’
Paul67 you’re a bad man making fun of the afflicted ;-)
BMCUW
Things change from time to time in any business, and I don’t know the precise details of the process during the summer of 2013 when these guys were signed, but I do know that there is a long-standing process at Celtic whereby:
Youth Players are the responsibility of the Youth Academy. The Head of Academy has an authority limit of £75,000. Anything more than that requires approval from the Manager.
First team players are the responsibility of the Manager. The Manager sets out the type of players he wants to sign, and the Scouting team bring together a list of players who fit the bill.
The Manager makes his decisions, negotiations proceed, and the CEO signs off on the contracts.
John Park, at that time, had an authority limit of £75,000. I’m not aware that this has changed.
The Scouting people identified the players in question as fitting Lenny’s description. Lenny signed ‘em all. His judgement, his players, his budget.
Eg:
– I want a Wayne Rooney type of forward.
– Check out Gary Hooper
– That’s the one. Peter!
Quite what the Spec was for the three Amidos is another question altogether.
Probs logging back in the BMCUW. I see you beat me to it.
TBB
NEUSTADT-BRAW
John James?
THEBATTEREDBUNNET
Excuses,excuses….
Cheers,mate. An honest and considered response.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
12:26 on
9 June, 2015
NEUSTADT-BRAW
John James?
…………………….
apparently he has been outed….if that is the correct term….if its true it is a delightful message to send with a wee note attached…..Big Mike is starting to enjoy this ….
braw
AN TEARMANN
Thanks,bud. I’ll be sure to pass on your kind regards to the family superstar.
Btw,anyone know of medium-term flatshare accommodation in Jesmond area of Newcastle? He might be a superstar,but if he disnae find somewhere decent fairly sharpish,he’s gonna be a homeless one when he starts work nearby!
Safe standing on the way, via rail seating- Green light given.
EmeraldBee\o/ still proud to be an internet bampot
just reading back/ catching up. left sacred heart in 1980, paisley in 83 never to return, happy memories.
HH
BBhoy
Safe standing approved http://www.celticfc.net/news/8420
NEUSTADT-BRAW
Oh dear. I wondered where he got such detailed info from. How terribly terrifying for the huns,to know that Ashley has been doing some digging and hit paydirt with King.
Which is the opposite of what the huns have hit with him.
My compassionate Christian side wonders how much more they can take.
But I also have a wicked side to me…
thomthethim for Oscar OK
12:34 on
9 June, 2015
Safe standing on the way, via rail seating- Green light given.
……………………..
braw news………..they work perfectly well in Germanyland
braw
ps green light was a nice touch…smiley thing
weeminger
12:37 on 9 June, 2015
Safe standing approved http://www.celticfc.net/news/8420
Why wait until 2016/17, get it done for 2015/16.
Richard ‘the happy’ Wilson dont half write some guff.
“when Ticketus “over-invested” (caveat over-investors).”
———
Belter, Paul:-)
Another very good analysis. Seems to be a make-it-up-as-you-go-along “strategy”.
McCall is on the back-burner if “sexier” names all turn it down.
keep on thinking wicked Bobby…..
my poor ribs are strapped up permanently noo a days …..
braw
Safe standing at Paradise, The Unseen Fenian Hand Strikes again:))
Feck……… safe standing approved
that’s me and the kids getting moved.
awe well.
Enjoy your day Celts,
neil francis lennon was appionted manger on this day 2010
hail hail all
:-)
Good Afternoon.
The King press conference was absolutely extraordinary. Vague promises, no substance, and no realism.
He gave the distinct impression that he wasn’t on top of any of the detail of the company/club of which he is now Chairman.
As an ‘event’ to try and get People to buy…errr…45,000 season tickets it was abysmal.
Here are some further thoughts on it…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/set-moonbeams-to-stun/
…and on the criticism-free media-coverage.
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/dave-kings-cunning-plan/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Canny wait to stand in Paradise again!
Why the year wait though?