Horrible damage inflicted by requisitioners
The actions of the Sevco Requisitioners in undermining Newco Rangers made no sense. They invoked an almighty schism, one which will forevermore deny the emerging club from a potentially rich seam of support. An act of such potential vandalism would surely not be undertaken unless they had a plan to deliver the necessary votes?
Turns out they didn’t have a plan after all. Some Oldco Rangers fans put their money on the table but their face didn’t fit. As a consequence, another group of Oldco Rangers fans overtly and covertly campaigned against them, but refused to put cash on the table.
Say what you like about the Easdales, they paid their money fair and square (and any debts to society, for those who like to go digging in the past). The embryonic club will develop in their image, it will stand or fall on their judgement. After coughing up, they endured incredibly manipulative pressures. They don’t strike me as natural underdogs but on this occasion they were. They resisted and I’m pleased for them. If you want to buy a club, walk in the front door with your cash, don’t try to drive the price down by trashing the club and invoking an insurrection.
Paul Murray deserves a special mention in this whole process. When Charles Green was pulling a deal together to buy the liquidated assets of Rangers, Murray campaigned against him, and all others who were prepared to put money on the table. As a consequence, Green was up against it from day one.
Instead of addressing Rangers fans as the man who ensured football would continue at Ibrox, Charlie was painted as a pantomime villain. Without this act of vandalism, he would have been able to sell 30,000 season tickets at full price. He could also have chased everyone earning over £50k per annum off the premises, ensuring Newco launched profitably, with a strong fan base.
Today, Newco would have money in the bank and be laying the foundations necessary for top flight football. No ‘legend’ would have been able to hold them to ransom in return for £800k p.a. Instead, Green, with £5.5m and untold more from his consortium in the game, was put in a horrible situation. As a consequence, he overpromised and under-delivered.
Having done all this, Murray turned on the Easdales, still without the money to get the job done. It is utterly unfathomable.
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