Rangers and Newco both look marooned without clarification

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So what do we know?

Need for clarification

Rangers’ potential new owner has asked for clarification on what he is buying, a franchise with a place in the SPL or the middle of a doughnut, with the ability to apply for membership to the Scottish Football League.

That clarification has not been delivered, which must undermine Rangers sale.

Rangers want an extension

Despite needing clarification, Rangers administrators, Duff and Phelps, failed to attend the meeting and asked for a further extension (it’s like the 2007-08 league season all over again).  Curious, to say the least. Clearly they were not in a position to offer the SPL information that would assist their case.

To be revealed before 30 May

The next meeting is on 30 May, by then the First Tier Tribunal on Rangers Employee Benefit Trust will have reported.  There will also be a considerable amount of information in the public domain on how Rangers operated under Sir David Murray.  With all this information available, it will be impossible for the SPL to further delay publishing the findings of their inquiry into Improper Registration of Players by Rangers.  In disciplinary terms, this is the big one.

What about Craig Whyte?

Bill Miller was appointed preferred bidder on Thursday but, as floating charge holder, Craig Whyte can ask the court to block stop Duff and Phelps disposing of Ibrox.  We don’t know Craig Whyte’s mind, or if he has a deal with Miller, but if they are not working in partnership, you can expect a late and effective legal block put in place to stop the disposal of Ibrox.

So what does it mean?

The chance of a Newco being in place, in the SPL or SFL, for the start of next season has never been more remote.  On 7 May they don’t have a buyer, after 10 weeks they don’t have the stadium and the moral outrage over what looked likely to be voted through today is beginning to gain traction.

Today was the best chance Rangers had to cut a quick deal with the SPL.  Further delay only means more time for the other clubs to work on contingency plans and to be lobbied by their own supporters.

We are six days away from the end of the season and Duff and Phelps have to put enough of a confirmed deal in place to convince someone to part with £11.2m.  They don’t have passage into the league and they don’t have a stadium to sell.

If Bill Miller stays in the game until the end of the week and submits a formal offer for the stadium and other assets, we can expect Craig Whyte to go to court to halt the process.  I cannot see how or why Miller, who doesn’t even have a passport and has made no moved to come over and negotiate in person, would put £11.2m on the table when he doesn’t know what he is buying, or what sporting and financial penalties are coming his way.

Rangers will have to overcome all these obstacles long before 30 May if they are to stay in the game long enough for Newco to inherit their place in the SPL but their chances of surviving that long is dependent on a positive outcome from the meeting that has now been postponed.

They look marooned; I don’t think they are going to make it.

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  1. SwanseaBhoy- Welcome to the area, you have been a far travelled man over the last few years, I hope you enjoy life here, rains like hell here as you will see out your windae!

  2. James – erudite and convincing as always. But I have to disagree.

     

     

    I have not read in the papers or heard on the airwaves any suggestion that Celtic are putting commercial interests first.

     

     

    I have heard PL saying that we can live without rangers.

     

     

    I have read on here that Celtic will vote against Newco.

     

     

    Celtic NEVER get to set the media agenda. EVER. You know that as well as I do. Celtic speak against Newco – Celtic are accused of stirring up ill feeling. Celtic painted as petty, small minded etc. Celtic never ever get fair representation no matter how much they speak out.

     

     

    Others always set the tone. isn’t that why we have become so attached to the new media?

     

     

    We may have to agree to disagree on this one. Thanks for the reply. I’m going off line now but will look in in the morning to check for any further comment from your good self.

     

     

    Keep up the blogging James. It’s always quality – even when I don’t agree with you!!!

  3. Airdrie United chairman Jim Ballantyne insists Livingston only have themselves to blame after the Scottish Football League relegated them to the Irn-Bru Third Division.

     

     

    The future of the West Lothian club is back in doubt after the SFL opted to punish them yesterday for breaching the league’s insolvency rules.

     

     

    The decision to strip Livi of their First Division status saw them replaced by Airdrie, who have now avoided the drop for the second straight season following Gretna’s demise last year.

     

     

    Ballantyne said in the Daily Record: “If you ask me if I feel guilty about what has happened to Livingston then the answer is no.

     

     

    “They have not played within the rules and that is unfair on all the other clubs who have not overspent and have lived within their means.

     

     

    “I am very happy with the decision of the SFL to uphold the integrity of the league.”

  4. Cheers Che

     

     

    Thinking about joining it for next season……..depending on how all this crap pans out and whether I’m going at all.

     

     

    Very conflicted.

     

     

    SwanseaBhoy

  5. James Forrest is Neil Lennon! We are ALL Neil Lennon! on 7 May, 2012 at 21:04 said:

     

     

    Maybe we are silent because we can be, because our case is being made, vocally, by other people … but if that’s true we must be supporting the NewCo, because that’s what nearly everyone else advocates.

     

    ______________________________________

     

    I was following the argument until that bit above. Can’t see that silence is any indication of support.

     

     

    Generally I can see your point and from time to time I agree. On the other hand, as the Chinese bhoy said, ‘Never interrupt your enemies when they are making mistakes.’ There is another thing – any untimely statement from Celtic would unite all the anti-Celtic forces in this country behind the hun banner. RFC’s venality would be forgotten and the whole show would be traduced into a ‘get Celtic’ crusade.

  6. To speak or not to speak that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of Jabba and his lazy lapdog mates or to shout back against a sea of raging orcs……….

  7. notthebus on 7 May, 2012 at 21:19 said:

     

     

    Well done on the research – just shows it is the right thing to do so long as its no the Rangers!!!!

  8. 31003 on 7 May, 2012 at 21:19 said:

     

     

    barclays premier league, best league in the world

     

     

    or so Sychophant Coyle tells us every week

     

     

    this season has been the worst EPL yet, the majority of games on Sky have been pants

  9. Paddy Gallagher on

    ton-che-dan on 7 May, 2012 at 21:20 said:

     

    PADDY GALLAGHER

     

    CAN YOU TELL ME MORE??????????

     

     

    Nope – just better to trust than criticise!!

  10. Kayal33 on 7 May, 2012 at 21:22 said:

     

     

    You’re right…….I could save £78+ if I give it up….fitty always crap……but then……I’d miss the good bits like films etc…..what to do…..what to do…..

  11. If Thomson of Dundee Utd is still undecided, I give him this thought.

     

    If Huns had managed to sign Goodwillie in August, you would now be one player down and not a single dime in your pocket in exchange.

     

    Huns would have had no qualms about shafting you and lets be honest, it is now clear that this was their plan all along.

     

     

    So, do unto them what they would have done to you!!

  12. Jim Ballatyne…….

     

     

    Airdrie United chairman Jim Ballantyne insists Livingston only have themselves to blame after the Scottish Football League relegated them to the Irn-Bru Third Division.

     

     

    The future of the West Lothian club is back in doubt after the SFL opted to punish them yesterday for breaching the league’s insolvency rules.

     

     

    The decision to strip Livi of their First Division status saw them replaced by Airdrie, who have now avoided the drop for the second straight season following Gretna’s demise last year.

     

     

    Ballantyne said in the Daily Record: “If you ask me if I feel guilty about what has happened to Livingston then the answer is no.

     

     

    “They have not played within the rules and that is unfair on all the other clubs who have not overspent and have lived within their means.

     

     

    “I am very happy with the decision of the SFL to uphold the integrity of the league.”

     

     

    Ballantyne admitted the timing of yesterday’s decision was not ideal, coming three days before the league is due to kick off.

     

     

    Should Livi appeal, it would mean the postponement of their opening-day fixture as well as those of Airdrie and Cowdenbeath, who have been promoted from the Third Division.

     

     

    Ballantyne revealed manager Kenny Black had built a squad capable of winning the Second Division, rather than surviving in the First.

     

     

    Airdrie and Cowdenbeath were losing play-off finalists last season and the latter’s manager, Danny Lennon, was delighted with yesterday’s decision.

     

     

    He said: “This news is a massive lift for everyone at the club, the players, the supporters and the community.

     

     

    “It was very disappointing to lose in the play-off final and we know it is going to be a difficult task now next season but it is certainly not beyond our players.”

     

     

    One man not happy with the outcome is East Stirling chairman Spencer Fearn, who has demanded the heads of the entire SFL management committee.

     

     

    Fearn’s side were scheduled to host Cowdenbeath on Saturday but are now in limbo over whether they will play Livingston or even take to the field at all.

     

     

    Insisting Livi should have been hit with a points deduction rather than relegation, Fearn said: “It’s a complete farce and a resignation issue for every single person who made the decision to turn Scottish football into an embarrassment just three days before the start of the season.”

  13. Another MiB decision hahaha

     

     

    Given Doncaster’s comments on Radio Scotland and D&P’s press release, not surprised at all.

     

     

    Maybe that is what was discussed today…

  14. midfield maestro on

    31003

     

     

    Kojo put up he is going into hospital tomorrow, no more info that I am aware of. Everyone just wishing him well.

  15. James Forrest is Neil Lennon! We are ALL Neil Lennon! on

    I love the guys from Celtic Research and elsewhere, finding all these tit-bits.

     

     

    Here’s the question. What good does it do?

     

     

    UEFA won’t listen to the complaints of individual fans, even if we submit a dossier ten inches thick, which we could. And for those still clinging to the idea they will involve themselves in this, I agree with very little Jim Duffy says on Clyde, but tonight he was right even if his facts were, typically, all over the shop.

     

     

    UEFA will not interfere. Those pinning their hopes on it are going to be gutted.

     

     

    They could have involved themselves before now. What exactly is it they are waiting for? And don’t even mention the EBT case; that case, too, will be handled, or not, by the SFA. I do not expect them to challenge whatever decision is made, as long as some form of punishment is meted out.

     

     

    Whilst the cheerleaders for Rangers are banging the war-drums, we are silent. And that silence costs us every single day.

  16. Swansea pop up to mcginleys the bhoys will see you ok should you decide to join, was up in bar bliss yesterday for one pint ended up all day……mrs ches fault she came in and held me at the bar till hunger got thebetter of us

  17. 31003 re Kojo

     

    He posted earlier today that he is going into hospital tomorrow for an operation.

     

     

    HH

  18. Bournesouprecipe @ 21.01,

     

    Amanda Holden? Beyonce not enough for you, then?

  19. I think Celtic will remain silent until there is something substantial to be said. Everything uttered(see what I did there) is bombast, nonsense and straight forward BS. Until the FTT result is returned there is no proven wrong doing.

     

    The SPL are not the governing body the are a company who want to make money. The SFA and UEFA have the power to allow or block Newcheats into the top league in Scotland.

     

    If the wrong doing is of the extent that it appears to be then the financial problems at Ibroke may be the least of their problems.

     

    Fifteen years of cheating, tax evasion/avoidance, collusion by members of the governing body! Expulsion is the only appropriate penalty.

     

    If the SFA don’t have the mallum, UEFA must.

  20. TerryONeill Neil ah love yae on

    If as ah believe ther will be no newco to vote on why would Celtic comment.

     

     

    If ther is to be a vote on a newco thats when you comment.

  21. Richard Wilson ‏ @timomouse

     

    Hearing rumours that Celtic have lodged notice with the SPL to quit the league. See, NOW Scottish football is fucked

  22. SwanseaBhoy on 7 May, 2012 at 21:23 said:

     

     

     

    Thank you kind sir…….

     

     

    Hope everything goes ok for him….not everyone’s cup of tea but a Celtic supporting human being……….can’t be too bad a person.

  23. ton-che-dan on

    PADDY GALLAGHER

     

    trust than critisize ???????????? not following sorry

  24. sparkleghirl on

    Hen1rik

     

     

    A caller on Clyde raised that and asked if there was any truth in it. HK dismissed it very forcefully. Maybe a bit too forcefully.

     

     

    I can’t really believe it’s true, but you never know

  25. socrates mulligan on

    With regards to Celtic making a statement, perhaps the club have given some thought to the possible implications for the safety and welfare of club officials and high profile supporters. Evidence from the recent past suggests such a view would be prudent

  26. Hibs v Rangers 10/12/11 att 11,380. Hibs v Dunfermline 7/5/12 att 15,000.

     

    Why do we need Rangers?

  27. Paddy Gallagher on

    ton-che-dan

     

    Put your trust in the board, they have been working like mad behind the scenes, if they fail us then criticise!

  28. hoops mccann on

    Today’s news, while hardly surprising, is confirmation (again) that no-one wants to make a decision in this matter, and are all hoping that events overtake them ie they go kaput.

     

     

    But I’m amazed that there are fans on this forum urging others not to renew their season tickets.

     

     

    As has been pointd out, what’s in it for the club to start making statements which will be twisted, deliberately misinterpreted etc.

     

     

    Don’t want to come across as a happy-clapper but I have every confidence that our board are proactive in this whole fiasco. Just because, at last, nothing is leaking out of Celtic Park doesn’t mean nothing’s happening.

     

     

    This is one time when the support need to unite, and I fail to see how hitting Celtic financially, and emotionally, by not buying season tickets helps our cause.

  29. James Forrest is Neil Lennon! We are ALL Neil Lennon! on

    socrates mulligan:

     

     

    That argument has validity, but then we are in even darker times than we have ever seen, and in those circumstances it would be better all round if we DID resign from this league, even if we had nowhere else to go.

     

     

    That would mean our national sport is now decided by terrorists.

  30. socrates mulligan

     

     

    fair point

     

     

    it only took some bams to see an msp with a celtic top on to become a legitimate target in their eyes

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