Belief structure of the debt lunatics

The wisdom of Hearts owner Ann Budge’s comments to the BBC that “Borrowing money for a particular capital programme you can understand, but running up debts that are prevalent in football is beyond my understanding really” is now, in 2014, surely beyond dispute.

Clubs are at liberty to borrow for infrastructure, or in exceptional circumstances, but in the normal course of business, borrowing for football costs should limited to covering the short-term fluctuations in cash-flow.

This thinking was orthodoxy until Sir David Murray led Scottish football by the nose into a spiral of debt accumulation.  The Murray Gospel found many converts among us, those who spoke against it were hounded as heretics.  Debt accumulation was the new crusade, the promised land could be reached with just one more brave act, apparently.

Suggesting this was self-harming nonsense to adherents who had supported a debt-fuelled battle for years attacked a fundamental pillar of their belief system.  Reactions were seldom considered.

It’s in this light we should consider the real lunatics.  Those who encouraged a business model which ended in liquidation, only to come back to the table demanding a fledgling incorporation ‘act like a big club’.  There’s a fair amount of research suggesting humans are hard-wired for religiosity.  We search for something to believe in, then stick with it as best we can.  If you have grown to believe that one more outrageous act will deliver European glory, a good harvest or a rain cloud, part of you will buy into it.

Stewart Regan’s “concern for the Scottish game” at newco Rangers financial position will be genuine, although the “Armageddon” merchant from the SFL has long left the scene.  He notes, “Rangers have got a strong economic impact, not just for Glasgow, but for Scotland generally”.  Well, oldco sure had an economic impact, on the public purse and several hundred creditors.  Mr Regan’s words should be a warning.

This morning Rangers International served notice that their AGM would take place on 22 December, just days within the permitted time period.  Accounts are normally issued with this notice, but for some reason, they were not on this occasion.  They are required 21 days before the meeting (i.e. within days); I’ve no idea what to expect, but it’s sure to be a quintessential Rangers document.

Some great offers on Celtic books and DVDs at CQNBookstore, a name already telling only part of the story!