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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HT
May I wish FAC every success at this meeting, broadening the knowledge of this abhorrent Bill
And good luck to you personally I driving forward the campaign
Hail Hail
JAMESGANG
When the huns start quoting in Latin,surely nothing can ever be the same again?
Magnificentseven – I never usually agree with NegAnon2 posts either and don’t agree with his comments tonight, but debate the man with the facts (which in this case is easy to do) don’t start insulting as the board has been relatively friendly recently and is a total turn off when it descends into insults.
This is not a dig, just my feelings on where we are with this blog at this time….
Heading out, but will reply if required when I get back on….
Cowiebhoy
Cheers pal let’s hope there’s a good turn out.
Had a wee laugh lookin in on Sevcomedya earlier when, in a thread titled ‘Safe Standing’
One of the posters claimed the idea of it was “backward thinking”
Is their general way of thinking so backward that the forward thinking of others becomes backward?
They confuse me
It is ceteris paribus.
TT
I find it somewhat hilarious at the juxtaposition between slagging of the Huns whilst ignoring celtics lustful desire to squeeze money out of its support.
Ignoring jamesgangs attempt at sarcasm (not that great jamesgangs try for more subtlety next time) all this how can it be on the season book stuff dos not everyone can get it.
Shall we play join the dots?
Celtic know they couldn’t get away with playing theses games and charging them at CP.. So they have now manufactured away games at home and can charge you. Hilariously, for the first time ever it’s dos they are fixing CO.mreally?mwonder what that work is? Anyone, anyone, bueller, anyone?
It’s a,ways amazing to me that the sheep so want o follow the Shepard into the abbotoir.
West End of East End
22:32 on
9 June, 2015
There is no debate with those who consistently ignore the facts in front of them, you cannot debate with those who have an agenda, there are a few on here who will not answer a logical argument and I will therefore not enter a debate with them, he is one.
I am sure you understand what I am saying, but to be honest it’s just another reason I tend not to bother these days, the prats get defended for being prats, goodnight
That’s cos they are fixing CP grammar fans. Are they refurbishing the whole stadium?
FFS
Bhoylo
Do not ever try to work the hun thought process out. Life’s too short bud.
Hope you are well in Doire.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS,
Will it ever be the same again
Pope Francis is coming out with something soon, through the United Nations thQt will rock this World.
Sustainable DEVELOPMENT.
Time Man of the Year.
What is Really going on?
I know nothing.
I know things are extremely crazy, The Word of God is the only answer.
I’ve neglected it so much over the last few years.
There is only so much Abuse you can take, I’m talking mental abuse.
Being that Black Sheep has never been you, I’m happy to be that Black Sheep, I realised that a long time ago.
You try to Configure solutions for everything.
Nope, Impossible.
Realise this and we can move on.
I’m a fecking Wanker
Neg
Please geeza brek fae the neg bud!
Magnificent seven you are simply not thinking through celtics strategy here.
Go,back to ignoring me though unless you want a wee debate rather than doffing your cap.
neganon2
I don’t like sarcasm. Please consider it a wee tickle in the ribs in the spirit of ‘turn that frown upside down’ ….. at least sometimes!
And/but for the record I wouldn’t expect pre season friendlies to be on my season book.
HH jamesgang
DD I will when Celtic stop ripping the arse out of us.
Deal?
Jamesgang,I’m having a wee laugh too. But pre season friendlies should ALWAYS be on the SB. Celtic have manufactured away ho,e,friendlies you need to pay for here. It’s so transparent.
Pre-season games?
On ST?
Pay in addition?
Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn….they should pay us to attend these pretendy football games!!!
HH
Good night all
LOVE, ohhhh and TOLERANCE :))))))
DD
Great thanks for asking.
I popped in earlier in the week and noticed someone mention it was ur birthday
So a big Happy (belated) Birthday from Derry!
Hope you partied like i know u can
★
PETEC
Don’t do yourself down,mate. Nor sell yourself short.
Nothing wrong with humility,but be proud of your achievements too. Yer a good guy-time you realised it.
Here endeth the lesson…
Neg
I disagree with plenty of our PLC decisions. At times they have ripped da pash. In this case I think they are doing fine and I will happily pay £24 for the 3 tickets for a week of watching our team in summer. You afford no credit for anything they do ever. Is it personal?
A for the love of whomever as soon as everyone seems to be having a good time on comes a spoiler to create a bogus controversy about the big bad board.
i like to have a dig at the board any chance i can.
but the decision to do pre season friendlies in scotland, hopefully increasing our chances to go into cl qual games prepared, is for me, a good sporting one.
the fact they cant be played at celtic park, due to works, ok, sound again, its a good reason.
taking them to a central location, in the west, during the holiday season, ok, good again.
charging a minimum sum, good again.
if you were a sb holder and told these 3 were part of your package, but you couldnt go, that would be crappier.
maybe some fans who dont get to cp cos of cost, and dont get on holiday, cos of cost, might get to see celtic.
i am content with it all
BHOYLO
Has yer better half forgiven you yet for sneaking off to Belfast-‘Back in a mo,love,just nipping out to put my coupon on’-and letting you loose on Dublin?
ps. a game in ireland would have been good as well
Bhoylo
Thanks bro! I partied like it was 1965! ;))
DELANEYSDUNKY
Aye,greedily grasping for a nipple,and settling for a bottle!
Neg anon
You have got this one wrong.
Celtic have previously been criticised for taking the team to Oz,USA ,ETC ,and chasing the Dolla.
This has been to the detriment of our CL preparation.
They have lost out on the travel Dolla and decided to stay at home.
Fair play to the board for doing so.
TT
neganon2
I’m glad you had a wee smile.
I too had a wee smile when you likened going to Paisley to being sent to the abattoir.
Get you Bearsden Lower Posh Bhoy – thought I. Slag off my home toon why don’t Ya!
Night Timdom
HH jamesgang
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie
Don´t post as much as I lurk these days, to see what revolves around Celtic.
I live a few countries down the west of Europe and live in a city which now rivals Glasgow as the centre of football club rivalry.
From being a television witness to the 1974 Parkhead semi final, I now live barely 100 yards from where the return leg was played. The only football equivalent ( correct me if I am wrong ) to what has happened here this season, and last year was quite a ding dong battle between the clubs as well, was the whitewash season of 2005/6. Six straight Celtic wins
There were an astonishing eight pairings of the Madrid sides this season with the following statistics
Atletico W4 D3 L1
Real W1 D3 L4
There were many nasty bitter battles which Peter Grant or Nacho Novo would not have gone amiss in and a “mini goleada” of 4-0 in one Atletico home game.
Maybe in the early seventies with League cup ties and still with the Glasgow Cup there were as many pairings as in Madrid.
The scottish game has its knockers amongst our ranks but is there anywhere else in the world where this has happened recently,ever?
This season, which has just finished with the success of Juve, who we gave a good game to over the two matches, shows that Italian football is rubbish too or we are not that far off the pace.
Incidentally a lot has been made in the spanish media this week about the importance of getting the first goal in a European cup final. Only 6 times in history they said has the winning side not scored first. I wonder who the other five were?
However we are a light year away when it comes to attitude and belief in ourselves. Juve have got it in spades and so did the Lisbon Lions. Over to you Ronnie.
Lots of young dudes and not so young sport celtic track suits and t shirts in this local area too. Much loved team in Madrid despite all the 74 shenanigans. If Atletico can drive up the European league so can Celtic!
Delaneys Dunky
Just looked this was number 1 when you were born Topped charts on 27/5/65 for 3wks.
Sandie Shaw – Long Live Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBYmsvdv47o
BMCUW
Hey me old buddy
Haha i havnt plucked up the courage to put in a permission slip yet but i will see closer to the time.
My next mission is to get to Paradise a couple of times next season with flights direct from Derry to Glasgow it should be easier done
B-)
Dd yes it’s completely personal. Celtic screwing over their supporters is always personal.
Saint stivs and others. Why on earth do you have to be so one dimensional? Of course it’s better we aren’t being the Harlem globetrotters of the football world hawking our wares across the globe.
But Celtic have made up this stuff about repairs at Cp to make a wee bit more money out of us.
Good news on the standing ; well done to all at the club.
On RC Ogilvie what is his position now. Does he pick up some other position in the SFA or is he out. It was a 2 year stint and it’s too early to join the after dinner circuit with McGinlay, Dougal, Tait et al.
Out of the country , so a bit out of touch.
Listened to the King interview ; my take is he is caught in the headlights. He is praying ( ok….) for Ashley to be driving a juggernaut and take out the whole shebang. Interesting he delays hiring the manager until after the EGM.
Admin before the season starts cannot be ruled out. OGilvie has passed the poison chalice to Macrae. Let’s see if McRae is prepared to objectively look at a club surviving month to month on unsecured Loans. Or will McRae do an Ogilvie II and look to give them a soft landing.
The new SFA President needs to restore the credibility after Ogilvie. Let’s see what he does.
BHOYLO
Good man. You’ll be welcomed at The Coarnir before the game and in The Kerrydale,etc,afterwards.
Neganon2,
The work at Celtic Park is being funded by GCC and is from the better than expected profits at the commonwealth games
It seems Celtic Park is the only venue to receive this one off bonus payment. The fact the Queen visited Celtic Park suggests she is behind this state aid initiative.
It’s really gone too far now.