Forster, Ashley and partnering with Sevco

951

Congratulations to Fraser Forster on his international call-up, I am absolutely delighted for him.  It occurred to me that he left Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley’s clutches on the cheap early this summer, while Ashley had other matters in Glasgow under consideration – partnering with Sevco.

It was with customary bombast that Sir David Murray announced the deal Rangers struck with JJB Sports in 2006 to offload the club’s retail and merchandise operations to the sports retailer.  At a stroke the club banked £18m although subsequent dilapidation and redundancy costs ate into this figure.  Celtic had previously rejected a similar deal, believing that securitising future revenue streams in this manner would only swap short-term for long-term problems.

That deal perished when Rangers liquidation was announced but the Newco acquired only one retail store (outside Ibrox) and no infrastructure in place.  Instead, six weeks ago, Newco handed over retail operations to Sports Direct, who now operate its retail company, Rangers Retail Limited, and its online operation at rangersdirect.co.uk.

This deal was covered in local and retail press but lacked the bombast Murray would have brought to the occasion, perhaps because Ashley was aware that Celtic fans no longer felt comfortable spending their cash with JJB after the 2006 link-up.  Better to keep this one low-profile so as not to cannibalise sales to Celtic fans.

Whether Ashley is part-owner of Newco or just their merchandising partner is moot, Sports Direct’s interests in the Scottish market are significantly entwined with The Rangers F.C.

It is unlikely the retailer had to pay as much as £18m up front to secure his new rights but their support will be absolutely critical in quickly building their partner club into a successful force.  If they can do this while continuing to milk Celtic supporters they have knocked it off.

Chances of me buying the 125th Anniversary Kit from Sevco’s partner company are approaching zero.  My Celtic budget is for the benefit of one club only, it will not help build The Rangers.

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  1. prestonpans bhoys on

    celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar’s Green Bucket Army

     

    21:47 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    can we start a fund for bjmac for plastic surgery :)

  2. CRC

     

     

    I know that since I pointed out the fact that you are NOT a roller coaster and are in fact a human being man, relationships have been frosty.

     

     

    But that you would deny me my rightful place on the scoreboard speaks more of the ‘clique’ rumours on here than I would have ever believed.

     

     

    For shame…

     

     

    U

  3. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    prestonpans bhoys

     

    21:52 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    Do you not want to start with hair transplant first?

     

     

     

    ClashCitybhoy-cheers, will get back to you soon

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  4. CRC

     

     

    Not telling you how to do your job or anything, but on Radio 4’s Just A Minute, in which the contestants interrupt each other for repetition, deviation or hesitation, Nicholas Parsons awards bonus points to contestants who make the audience laugh.

  5. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Round 4 of 5: Name the opposition and the Celtic player who scored the winning penalty in each of the following games which finished with a penalty shoot-out?

     

    (2pts if you are first to answer Q correctly, 1pt if correct but not first. One Submission only per round )

     

     

    1.League cup semi-final 2009

     

     

    2.Champions League, 3rd Qual Round, 2007/08

     

     

    3.Skol League Cup Semi Final 1986/87

     

     

    4.Dubai Cup 1989

  6. C-1st,

     

     

    i’m on my toes as always………pity the toes are nearly worn out now with all the weight pushing on them!

     

     

    But im sure they’ll hold out for another 2 rounds

     

     

    ;-)

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  7. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Celtic_First

     

    21:58 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    That puts Prestonpans Bhoy in the lead :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  8. Celtic Soul Brother- Supporting Kano 1000 on

    1.Dundee Utd-Skippy

     

    2.Spartak Moscow-Magic

     

    3.Motherwell-T.Burns

     

    4.Liverpool-M.McGee

  9. Name the opposition and the Celtic player who scored the winning penalty in each of the following games which finished with a penalty shoot-out?

     

    (2pts if you are first to answer Q correctly, 1pt if correct but not first. One Submission only per round )

     

     

    1.League cup semi-final 2009

     

    Dundee United, Scott McDonald

     

     

    2.Champions League, 3rd Qual Round, 2007/08

     

    Jan Venegoor of Hesselink, Spartak Moscow

     

     

    3.Skol League Cup Semi Final 1986/87

     

     

    Paul McStay, Hearts

     

     

    4.Dubai Cup 1989

     

    Paul McStay, Liverpool

  10. 1.League cup semi-final 2009 – Holy Goalie

     

     

    2.Champions League, 3rd Qual Round, 2007/08 – Aaaargh…..Naka

     

     

    3.Skol League Cup Semi Final 1986/87 – Paul McStay

     

     

    4.Dubai Cup 1989 – Frank McAvennie

  11. 1. Dundee Utd – Artur Boruc

     

    2. Spartak Moscow – Shaun Maloney

     

    3. Aberdeen – Jobo Baldie

     

    4. Liverpool – Darren O’dea

  12. Round 4 of 5: Name the opposition and the Celtic player who scored the winning penalty in each of the following games which finished with a penalty shoot-out?

     

    (2pts if you are first to answer Q correctly, 1pt if correct but not first. One Submission only per round )

     

     

    1.League cup semi-final 2009

     

    ARTUR BORUC

     

     

    2.Champions League, 3rd Qual Round, 2007/08

     

    JIRI JAROSIK

     

     

    3.Skol League Cup Semi Final 1986/87

     

    MURDO MACLEOD

     

     

    4.Dubai Cup 1989

     

    JOE MILLER

  13. well i blew that one!

     

     

    Celtic-First what was that I was saying???

     

    Seems like the toes have given way after all………..

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  14. prestonpans bhoys on

    celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar’s Green Bucket Army

     

    22:00 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

    Celtic_First

     

    21:58 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    That puts Prestonpans Bhoy in the lead :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

     

     

    only way I would win anyway……………..:) :) :)

  15. Round 4 of 5: Name the opposition and the Celtic player who scored the winning penalty in each of the following games which finished with a penalty shoot-out?

     

    (2pts if you are first to answer Q correctly, 1pt if correct but not first. One Submission only per round )

     

     

    1.League cup semi-final 2009

     

    Dundee Utd, McManus

     

    2.Champions League, 3rd Qual Round, 2007/08

     

    Spartak Moscow, Paul Hartley

     

    3.Skol League Cup Semi Final 1986/87

     

    Hearts, Macleod

     

    4.Dubai Cup 1989?

  16. Toor A Loo,

     

     

    Hmmmm that a new nom-de-blog?

     

    Previous called: Pit Belt by any chance???

     

     

    And as for your question……..nah!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  17. Celtic_First

     

    21:58 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

    CRC

     

     

     

    Duly noted…..you’re on warning for clyping .

  18. BT

     

     

    God bless Daniel Francis. Long life and good health to that bhoy and to his ma and da.

  19. No first time name was in CQN purgatory for about a year before login went through, anyway Hail Hail

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