In three months Duff and Phelps have not made an inch of progress on the key issue, the Only Show in Town, Craig Whyte, who has security over the stadium and Murray Park is extremely likely to inhibit any attempt to dispose of these assets against his will.
Without a stadium the SFA and SPL cannot licence and admit a football club. While Duff and Phelps may have preferred the SPL to negotiate directly with the owner of Newco (once he was appointed), they were not in a position to ask the SPL for admittance yesterday without a stadium – perhaps a more practical explanation as to why they didn’t attend yesterday’s meeting.
Now that a CVA has finally been acknowledged as undeliverable, players will leave Rangers after Sunday’s visit to St Johnstone as free agents. There will be no Newco on hand to offer them a new deal. Those who can, will find employment elsewhere. This will be more than just the headline players, I know youth players at all levels have been scouted by clubs across Scotland and England. The chance to scoop up another club’s prime youth talent for free will not be passed up.
Getting a deal done this week with the SPL, the SFA, Bill Miller and the players would have allowed Duff and Phelps to maintain continuity, with Newco taking over for Sunday’s game. This will not now happen. The finger Duff and Phelps placed in the dyke back in February is set to slip.
Staff who cannot find employment elsewhere will remain at Rangers until 31 May. If Duff and Phelps sell ‘the club’ before that date, players who want to transfer to Newco can do so under TUPE regulations, which maintains their pay and conditions, however, they will be unable to transfer their player registrations until Newco is a licenced football club (which is dependent on SFA approval, which in turn will indirectly be dependent on Craig Whyte disposing of the stadium).
Duff and Phelps have no money to fund Rangers FC after 31 May, so must sell all assets before that date or the padlocks will go onto Ibrox and Murray Park. Yesterday was their last best chance to pull a deliverable deal together.
The fact Duff and Phelps didn’t even turn up to the meeting, and yesterday evening Neil Doncaster told Radio Scotland they didn’t return his calls when he phoned to ask why, indicates how on-target plans are.
Incredibly, I read one newspaper today suggested ‘Rangers [were]to benefit from SPL delay’. Where there’s life, there’s hope, I suppose. Somehow I cannot see Duff and Phelps’ Clark and Whitehouse high-fiving at the prospect of withdrawing from yesterday’s meeting. It is more likely that an undignified disintegration of a football club is set to take place in the weeks to come.
On a separate note: Just when Duff and Phelps would have presented Craig Whyte with a take-it-or-leave-it offer for all his assets, Brian Kennedy nips in as a second potential bidder for the stadium. Unless Kennedy is putting more skin on the table than Bill Miller all he is doing is fortifying Whyte’s negotiating position.
You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.
The graphic below is just for a flick through, to read the magazine go here to it’s dedicated site.
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I wonder if Craig Whyte is the greatest ever CELT, just wondering!!
KINGLuBO
Good morning one and all. I see that it is still morning, but not for much longer. I have just arrived home from the jigging, so to speak.
Vmhan – happy birthday!
Zbyszek – belated happy birthday
Paul – belated happy birthday too
Kojo – I hope all goes well
I hope I haven’t missed anyone.
Celtic First
lol– Puyol is indeed the Vice Captain of the squad but has captained the team. My comments come from an article on Puyol quoting Madrid fans.
Paul 67
The Darth Vader voice entered my dreams/nightmares last night again!
Hail Hail
Mountblow tim, cheers.
FourGreenFields, this issue of the magazine is only available from Magcloud.
Joe Filippis Haircut, a lot must be overcome before rules can be changed to help them. The stage was set for this yesterday and they didn’t even turn up.
miki67, thanks.
The Pantaloon Duck, many thanks.
KevJungle, aye.
Good to see a club (Hibs) doing well through hard work, balancing the books and sporting integrity – maybe there is hope for scottish football.
Sometimes I forget that the problem we have at the moment is only down to one team – Rangers. They will soon be gone, with all the toxidity surrounding them, and we can all get back to whats important – football.
alex thomson @alextomo
To Brussels for a couple of days this week. But will ascertain exactly where Rangers’ plight leaves UEFA and Scottish FA
AT, if you are looking in,more power to you sir.
BRTH
Had you down as a Fray Bentos man the minute I saw ye.
Thae caballero boots were a dead give away.
I can relate to your love of the game. My time was spent playing on cooncil pitchex then watching my boys and lassie doing the same.
topkat
jim ballentine is a hun through and through he would give them his stadium if it came to it beleve me i know him
Any help with the link for purchasing the CQN magazine in the UK .
There used to be a link showing UK £5 inc postage and other options but can’t seem to find it
celt for life
Petrie runs Hibernian the way Tom Farmer wants it run. It will be run the way Hibernian were in the past. The club will be there forever and Farmer whose relations were involved in Hibs early days will ensure the club never take financial risks. The have the best football ground in Scotland outwith Glasgow and they own a state of the art training ground outside the city.
Hibernian have a good support and are probably on a par with Hearts in the city of Edinburgh. Hearts have more fans in the surrounding towns and villages though and as far west as Bathgate there are a lot of Hearts fans. As far west as Livingston is about as far as Hibs fans are and then it’s all Celtic supporters at the RC schools with some exceptions. I’m not sure why that is but I assume that the protestant kids at schools feel more attachment to Hearts than Hibs because of their hated green colours. Hearts are also closer to home than Rangers and loads of guys I know changed from Rangers to Hearts and back many times. Sometimes on a season to season basis!
Hibs have a problem with managers. They never seem to get the right one.
Living in Edinburgh myself I hear and see a lot of what is going on with Hibs & Hearts. Glasgow is a goldfish bowl but Edinburgh is a village in comparison. The Hibs players seem to have this culture of drinking. Gary Caldwell admitted it when he came to Celtic. It took him months to get fit because when he was at Hibs the training was light and they were out boozing most of the week. John Collins changed that at Hibs and the players hated it. He had them working hard and was rewarded with a cup win and a cracking 5-1 victory. He was ousted because the players didn’t want to work hard they wanted their cushy lifestyle. Quite sad actually.
Petrie is an accountant and not a football man. I’m not sure who has a say in the manager appointments but I think they need a football man in there to help at Hibernian. McNamara Snr, Stanton, etc would be a good resource.
Hibernian are a mixed up club at times and have had their troubles throughout their history. Famously only played RC’s who attended mass the previous Sunday in the 1800’s. Not only did you have to be a RC you had to go to mass!!!
Celtic obviously had a massive impact on the Hibee’s and stole a number of their players but Hibernian would have been fine if they had rolled with it and got on with it. They didn’t and almost went bust. They were then restructered and the Roman Catholic side of the club was massively toned down.
My wife is a Hibs supporter and I admit that I have always had a soft spot for them. My mum is also a Hibernian fan. In a perfect world for me it would be Celtic and Hibernian 1 and 2 at the top of the league.
Hibernian fans are a mixed up bunch though. They hail from Leith and are immensely proud of their roots there but they have to be the most deflated football fan in Scotland. Even if they are winning you hear them saying things like it will never last, we will probably still lose this. Etc.
John Collins changed that with pure hard work and graft. The players didn’t like it but Fenlon may have more of a chance by rooting out the lazy players and getting some cheaper Irish boys in.
Hibernian have the tools to be a massive club in Scotland but fall short in every sense of their club set up.
They are financially run well and have no issues with debt but still win nothing and flirt with relegation every few years.
Hibernian and Petrie should be against a Newco though as the rivals who love to hate Hibernian, Hearts are in a very similar position to Rangers.
Hearts & Hibs have a similar relationship to Celtic & Rangers in that Hearts fans appear to hate Hibs more than they love their own club. I would suggest that Celtic are pretty near the top of their hate list too these days.
Edinburgh is a funny town. They are not as passionate about football as Glaswegians but some would like it that way. I feel for Hibs at times but as a club they must believe and get behind the club when they are winning and stay there. I sense they are a victim of being a well run club. The attitude from most fans is ‘Why have money – Spend it!’
Where have we heard that before?
I wish Hibernian well in the final but I just wish it was us there. We should have had at least two trophies this season!
LB
Celtic First ——
Spain ?
One of my neighbors comes from Bilbao —– he is an Athletic Club fanatic .
Last time I met him we discussed the forthcoming Euros ——
He stated that he didn’t care who won it as long as it wasn’t Spain..
.
KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for, Lennons Lions” on 8 May, 2012 at 11:44 said:
Try turning the DVD player aff before ye go tae sleep…
Once again a brilliant post by BRTH, encapsulating all I believe football to be.I see I’m older than he by quite a few years, but I too went to watch other football teams in the Irish League when Distillery were away from home and this poor apprentice(unless he had touched for a “homer”) couldn’t afford to travel.I saw Jackie Milburn playing for Linfield,and Jimmy Jones play for Glenavon.To my untrained eye Jones always looked the more dangerous player.I played amateur and minor league, Saturday Morning league, and when I got my dinner after work I played in the street or the park.I loved the game, the Bests,McParlands,Blanchflowers et al.Those were the days before the civil war, euphemistically named “The Troubles”, when Norn Ireland were cheered on as “Ireland”.The loss of Belfast Celtic profoundly affected my oldest brother, and he was to tell me all the stories about that great team.I have watched Man Utd from no height,having a sister who moved there in the early 50s and a brother-in-law who was a fanatical follower.What brought me to Celtic was the treatment they got in Scotland,and MON getting it right up them in spades.It was Don Quixote tilting at the windmill of the SPL,SFA, and the SFL.It is the great fight for right and wrong, the search for what is the “good”,and the sense of morality and integrity,the willingness to do good for others,and above all that the desire to play proper football even though teams are allowed to kick you at will.NL has slowly and surely brought that to this bunch of players.Not one has asked to leave.Samaras,one of my favourite players,gets this big style.Thel’ll have to shoot him to get rid of him.He knows.He wants to play football,and he sees that the place to do so is Celtic Park.
Meanwhile,as I posted last night,Celtic and the board need do nothing.They will have looked at and played out the various scenarios and war games,and will be ready no matter what happens.I can’t wait to see who is coming to the club.I’m like a child, as my wife puts it, obsessed with CQN,Etims,and other Celtic blogs.Put PMcG and Alex Thompson to that list as well.Just think—European football next year while the Orc is floundering in the mud, and a manager learning all the time.
Can’t wait.
Sorry Paul67
Just found your reply , many thanks for a great site .
Keep up the good work.
Hail Hail
MURDOCHAULDANDHAY 1141
He’s right-everybody knew all that,including that the use of EBTs was rife throughout the club.
Alex Thompson’s point is precisely that.
Everybody knew all this.
And nobody dared print it.
They will just NEVER get it………
Paul 67
I know you mean well so please don’t take this as a crtitcism but your comment…
“It is more likely that an undignified disintegration of a football club is set to take place in the weeks to come”
…could have been made on any given day from Feb 14 on and still be valid. We need closure on this unholy mess – hopefully this will be delivered next month.
Paul67
With the news that the Green Brigade are not renewing their season tickets at this time and alot of posters on here making similar noises, I am more worried about our plans for next season disintegrating.
In saying that, the article was the perfect pick me up for a drab Monday.
HH
Som Mes Que Un Club
BRTH was talking about the fans, not the players.
Barcelona players have almost always turned out for Spain when asked. The only exception I can think of in recent times would be Oleguer Presas, quite a guy. But this has provoked plenty of controversy back home.
Xavi Hernández, whose father is from a village in Almería, has been criticised for his practice of turning down the socks of the national team kit to avoid displaying the Spanish flag (he denied that this is what he was trying to do).
Carles Puyol has made a point of taking off his armband and kissing it after scoring against Real Madrid in the Bernabéu. The armband represents the flag of Catalonia. The Madrid crowd has responded by singing ¡Viva España!
These things have their complications.
AsonofDan. Have the Green Brigade given the reason for not renewing there season card ? H.H.
FourGreenFields, you’re very welcome.
The Moon Bhoys, yes, it has been more likely and is only becoming increasingly so.
I cannot believe the hostile reaction to what was very bad news for Rangers yesterday.
ASonOfDan, don’t be too reassured.
I have long come to the realisation that many Celtic fans will not renew next season. Some will (illogically) hold a grudge against Celtic, who are playing an absolute blinder. Some will believe the game is compromised (agree on this, rules will be changed to prevent Celtic or Rangers being relegated in the event this happened). Some will believe the product will be poor without comparable competition (almost certain). At least one of these reasons will come true.
There will be fewer of us, people will take their pick on reasons not to come back, but we will have a strong future and will be comparatively stronger in Scotland.
Celtic will be a smaller but successful football club.
I’ll be back.
The Moon Bhoys @ 12 01
” We need closure ”
Each to their own but I want The Peepul ‘s scabby sores to be scratched for as long as it takes them to develop gangrene.
Starry plough @11:57
Try turning the DVD player aff before ye go tae sleep…
…………………………………………………………………………………………
I do.
I even pull the plug-out!
Yet…..DV/voice -” Keeeeeeeevinnn!”
DV again -“Kevin. How many times must I tell you that you, NEVER, Under-estimate the Dark Side ?”
DV again-“Kevin. I’ll say this one last time.”
DV again-“Scotland IS the huns, the huns ARE Scotland!”
KJ – “Feck-off ya, hun looney till I get some kip!”
Hail Hail
Off oot.
May God Bless Paul 67 and ‘Every’ CQNer.
Celtic_First
Point taken mi amigo.
Paul67
Celtic participating and thereby legitimising in an election to defraud around 200m pound sterling where you place your valuable and esteemed opinion that Newco will get voted through and additionally leave that avenue open to others for future abUSE and you can´t believe the reaction to it ?
I can.
HAil Hail
Joe Filippis Haircut
They state they are not renewing until Celtic’s position over Newco has been clarified.
Paul67
I am renewing, There is no way I am missing out on this Golden Dawn.
Is Hamish Mackay journalist that was born in Armadale West Lothian and spent most his adult life espousing his hatred of the Vatican ?
Hail HAil
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
A man from Armadale that hates the Vatican?
Not unusual that bud.
One that can write and write and hate the Vatican is unusual though.
LB
MurdochauldandHay, 11:41
Three words that sum up the reporting, and in no way contributed to, this story.
Motherwell-born billionaire
ASonOfDan on 8 May, 2012 at 12:16 said:
You do know that Golden Dawn is the far right party that has just gained a lot of seats in Greece?
BOOM !!
Awe Naw, that was not what happened yesterday.
Specifically “Celtic participating and thereby legitimising in an election”. Here is the news: There was no election!
Shocker of what?
ASonOfDan, you are officially, Faithful through and through.
I am holed up in a hotel in a small town outside La Paz in Bolivia. There is a general strike and all roads in and out of the capital are blocked as is the border back into Peru.
The good news is that I have an Internet connection so this wee message is a personal thank you to Paul67 for the gift that is CQN.
Great to keep in touch. The end really is approaching. Events will get murkier before they finally go.
weeminger
Does Criag Whyte own the seats? ;)
Hear hear Paul – I will be back too.
I note that you appear to acknowledge that whatever happens in the next period there will be a Rangers in the SPL next season.
I think Celtic supporters have to come to terms with the fact that that is what is going to happen (rules will be changed and UEFA will not intervene) and hope that there are appropriate sanctions that punish them for their crimes. Personally I’m not optimistic about that but why should I penalise Celtic for the ins of others.
………….
Paul67 on 8 May, 2012 at 12:11 said:
FourGreenFields, you’re very welcome.
The Moon Bhoys, yes, it has been more likely and is only becoming increasingly so.
I cannot believe the hostile reaction to what was very bad news for Rangers yesterday.
ASonOfDan, don’t be too reassured.
I have long come to the realisation that many Celtic fans will not renew next season. Some will (illogically) hold a grudge against Celtic, who are playing an absolute blinder. Some will believe the game is compromised (agree on this, rules will be changed to prevent Celtic or Rangers being relegated in the event this happened). Some will believe the product will be poor without comparable competition (almost certain). At least one of these reasons will come true.
There will be fewer of us, people will take their pick on reasons not to come back, but we will have a strong future and will be comparatively stronger in Scotland.
Celtic will be a smaller but successful football club.
I’ll be back.
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ASonOfDan on 8 May, 2012 at 12:23 said:
Only the important ones.
BRTH
What an excellent post! Yet again you articulate the feelings and beliefs of real football supporters in a way only a very few talented people could do. Are you Hugh McIllvanney? :-)
weeminger @12 20
Golden Dawn ?
Saw their leader being interviewed on Italian tele .
He blamed Greece’s problems on ” Jews and immigrants “.