My friends in Celtic, the day has come. Rangers are dead. The Old Firm existed for many years but we all now know that particular duopoly was terminated years ago – on the day Murray International Holdings bankers tried to put Celtic out of business, to be precise.
Today, we stand proud and alone.
“Celtic are in an exceptionally strong financial position. They can survive the vagaries of football fortune, or economic downturn, without the threat of cutback should income dip.
Conversely, Rangers are in dire trouble. This year will not be financially the worst Sir David Murray has bestowed on his club, but it will make for horrendous reading to any prospective buyer of the club and provide further evidence that they are hopelessly adrift of financial security.
Winning the league this season and qualifying for next season’s Champions League will not provide succour from their structural problems, it would only result in a temporary slowdown in decline.
Rangers debt has risen inextricably, and is set to continue to rise, at a time when bank facilities have become more difficult and expensive to acquire.
Should new HBOS owners, Lloyds TBS, take fright at the property-to-football conglomerate, Murray International Holdings, which includes Rangers, frankly, the consequences are so dramatic, I don’t think we should discuss them, as I have trouble sleeping when I get too excited.
We live in a time when things which simply cannot happen, happen. When some of last year’s most credit-worthy companies in the world have gone into receivership; when one of the centuries-old pillars of the Scottish business community crumbled in days.
No company dependent on a significant increase in its debt is safe.
Rangers Football Club, 1873 – 20??”
The years since 2008 have been hard for Celtic fans. We watched our team lose three consecutive league titles to a former club, who despite their self-evident mortal danger, continued to fund a league and Champions League challenges.
We stuck to budget and lost trophies. This was a hard decision but it was absolutely correct. Football regularly throws up clubs who will recklessly burn cash. You can indulge in their lunatic ways, or sit it out, tell your fans you cannot afford to spend more, and hope that in time your judgement is proven to be right. Today is vindication for all those hard years.
I’m not a financial analyst and never actually spend too much time reading Rangers accounts but the above synopsis was inescapably obvious – and this was years before I knew about the EBTs. Rangers directors would have known this at the same time, if not before. If they were blind to it, they were equally useless. Only God above will know why they didn’t rein the horses in, lose a few leagues, but kept their football clubs in business.
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guys switch from STV to BBC 2 – there are actually some articulate adults on there.
Bloke109 is Neil Lennon on 14 June, 2012 at 23:19 said:
Cheers Bloke…
TV Less in the valley!!
SoAL
I just waiting for the letter asking for them to be repaid :>)))
Blood and stone spring to mind, I own nothing……….
Why are old men and Huns on this sham?
He says ” are you convinced about ranger’s future?”
Hellooooo…… They don’t have a future.
At last, open discussion on BBC of rangers ability to win many trophies that they could not actually afford. Or as we used to call it in the playground – cheat.
Well done mark Daly and Jim Spence. World of difference compared to the garbage on stv.
S
Jim Spence, you wee dancer, sporting integrity, that is what the fans want.
Yes it bloody well is.
STV – another “institution”. Worked there in the 80’s and was told “if there’s Fish on a Friday, we get there quick, so, that lot don’t get it…” ‘Nuff said……
Interesting choice of shirt and tie colour there from the chap on the BBC. They don’t even try to hide it.
@chrisgraham76 not getting the fact that sanctions have been applied for liquidation (no Europe) and administration (15 point penalty) not for EBTs.
Tom English saying Sky will be interested in covering newco games in Division 3, big market he says.
This is the level of debate folks.
Ghuys and ghirls. As I said before, this is the last gasp of a dying institution that represented a bygone people from a bygone time.
Enjoy this charade for what it is and be happy that we stiil support a stable club with bright future.
HH
Richard wilson-hun
FourGreenFields on 14 June, 2012 at 22:59 said:
“Who do you think NEWCO clubs first signing will be ”
=====
I think that it is important to get all the directors in place before any other decisions are made …… I suspect that someone from the Co-op will be appointed Funeral Director.
Guy on BBC just stated rangers ‘too big to fail’ – guess he missed all the news today.
S
Catching up on the blog while channel hoping between the golf
and the downfall of those now called the newco zombies.
Madmitch
On such a day as this I find your negativity misplaced.
Like many on this blog I have issues with PL & the board however your
criticism that PL puts a personal bonus over club success is unwarranted.
Last October I worked at PL,s house.Without going into detail he listened
to the concerns of the guy who turned up in a boiler suit (me), he answered
all my questions(many),he expressed frustration at the form of the team which
at the time had myself and many on here in a state of angst.
To sum up,it was like meeting any fellow fan who had the club at heart.
His faith in Neil Lennon was immeasurable.
His last words to me when I left were keep the faith.
Events since then have proved him & Paul 67 correct.
Does anyone know how to make a Chinese lantern, Blue Peter stlyle?
Not miserable or anything but it would keep the weans happy for hours and
hours, and in a few years they might turn round and say “remember those lanterns?,
what were they for again?
My Dear,dear,dear,friend.. Doc @ 23.08
You asked..
IF. Ma Surname wiz Docherty?
Ma Answer ..is NO.
So whit IS Ma Surname, then.. ye May ask.. or.. mebbe, ye wullnae ask that .. at awe!.. How the Heck Wid Ah Know ,That?
Any way.. supposing ye Did.. efter awe..
Ask. Whit is Ma Surname,then??
And thereby hings a Tale..
Ah hiv hid so many.. that Ah hiv Loast Coont!
In Ma Business.. it wiz and Is.. Quite.. de Rigueur.. tae Change yer Surname.. tae Anither..
However.. Unfortunately.. If Ye dinnae Dae Very Well.. while Performin’.. with yer Newly. asssumed. Surname..
Ye dae whit.. Well Ah dae..
Ye. Change It !
and. well.. If ye Still Don’t dae Too Well Wi That Yin.. ye kin..
Dae whit.. well.. Ah , always Dae, dae..
Ye Chinge It!
Ah am noo using Ma.. Fifty First or.. Second..
Assumed Surname..
And..
as Ah still no .. Hittin’ the High Spots…in Ma Performance..
It looks like..
Ye Guessed..it!
Ah Wull Hivtae . Well..
Change it.. Wance Mair!
So ye kin see Ma Predicament.. in answering Yer Question..
It is so long ago.. and so Many Name Changes Ago…
That .. well..
Ah canny remember.. whit Ma Original Surnname Wiz..
Ah only remember that is Began wi’ . a “C’ … or.. wait a minute..
it May hiv Bin a “T”..or wiz is No…..???
Kojo
Yer Pal.. Who likes ye aloater
Still, Laughin’.. of Course!!
Paul and fellow posters,
STV Investigation.
Apologies for language violation earlier. That was the most shockingly biased programme I have ever witnessed. Hun Promotion to a tee. Kelly was dispicable as a “Celtic” spokesman.
They have been punished enough. Football in this country is dead without them.
Better to die a freeman than live forever a slave.
BBC 2 – Tacks? Tac (as in blue)……. Oh shit, they mean Tax. Who amongst the cheaters pays that? Pfft……..
PJBhoynyc
Interesting.
The paralels are scarry.
I think things will crank up if the left win the election in Greece on sunday,and I think they will, they want out of the euro, interesting times ahead.
New challenges ahead
Congratulations Paul for the way you have managed to enter the media and steer the debate away from the usual cliches, These last few months have been hectic on here, and it is a hectic place already! My deephearted thanks to all of you who have done the same in your other ways, too many to mention, but Terry O guesting on Radio Snyde deserves a mention, he has been a stalwart these last few seasons. Phil´s blog has been of great help too of course, which itself spawned the big tax case blog. Another strong persuasive presence in the media was Paul McBride whom we will sadly miss.
As to why the directors of Rangers didn´t rein in to avoid a collapse, we need to know the history. Rangers defeat at Berwick Rangers….note the Rangers, was the greatest upset of the modern game. At a time when Celtic and Rangers were going head to head for the league. It happened at the beginning of that all defining year, 1967. Strikers George McLean and Jim Forrest were blamed for not scoring although none other than Jock Wallace, the Berwick goalkeeper no less, he was also the manager, might have had something to do with that. The Berwick lads knew they would get out of going up and down those dunes if they could sneak a result. And sneak it they did. However surely some finger of blame should have rested at the door of the defence. Norrie Martin in goals was not much cop but there were five defensive minded players; Kai Johansen, giants like McKinnon and Provan, the equally robust Dave Smith and John Greig. How did they manage to let in a goal? I saw John Greig play, or try to play, a few times and we all remember how George Connelly took the ball off him like in a playground at school in front of the Celtic End at Hampden..
Yet Greig went marching on with Rangers whilst George and Jim were punted within weeks of the debacle. Yes, Greig kept his place and promoted to the first team was none other than Sandy Jardine. Greig and Jardine , two Edinburgh natives and they probably weren´t good enough for Hearts. Forrest who started out at Drumchapel and Dandy McLean, from the burgh of Paisley were top players, Forrest once score 57 goals, two short of Jimmy McGrory´s record, in a season and they were west of scotland young men not tie wearing gents from the capital. That was when delusion set in at Ibrox.
In two years they were splashing out on striker Colin Stein, flop at Coventry later, and from then on signing players became their big thing, very few came through the ranks in the next decades, though there have been some cases, but the big signing era had been ushered in. From then on that club was in the business business not in the sports business. They would never fully recapture the style of play which Jim Baxter had stamped on the team when they actually won a treble in 1964, because there was more focus on businesses like Rangers Pools. Living under a green and white shadow during 9 seasons played its part too of course. What a grand old team that won 9 in a row.
So the die was cast back then. Bad sporting judgement. And as you said in your article in 2008 no business is immune from the pitfalls of commerce.
New challenges ahead
Mad Mitch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Campbell_Mitchell
Emusanorphan, yellow card.
The language is key to the next battle.
The hun blogger oddity on STV says they have been punished enough, fuelling the myth that RFC are about to be ‘demoted’ as part of a further ‘punishment’.
RFC no longer exist. There is no further demotion, or punishment or anything else. If they want to create a new football club in the traditions (!) of Rangers then that’s their business, but it has no place in the SPL, because it has not earned that place.
Bhoys
Watched STV which was utterly appalling but had technical difficulties with recording BBC2 in that I forgot to do it.
Anyone know if Newsnight Scotland will be on iPlayer or any other options o watch.
Michael Kelly is an absolute disgrace to Celtic.
SwanseaBhoy
Whizzit Craig whyte…?
urr whizzit…David murray…?
It was the wahole stinkin lot of yeez….
Generations ……!!!!!!!
….Of Yeez !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul
Apologised soon after. Apologies again. Lost it totally with STV programme.
Just watched Newsnight.
Richard Wilson is a desperate, hurting hun.
Well played Jim Spence.
Who was the guy Hyslop on STV. He really contributed a lot to the debate didn’t he?
As for Michael Kelly – failed Chairman of The Bungling Board. How dare he purport to speak for the majority of Celtic supporters. We don’t want New Club in the SPL, Michael. Now stop publicity seeking. We all remember you and how you nearly destroyed Celtic. Now please crawl back under your stone and don’t hang about like a bad smell.
Kojo on 14 June, 2012 at 23:28 said:
I expected no less, and no more, a dilemma wrapped in an enigma, shrouded with a heavy dose of straight forward BS.
Good on ye chief.
If ever you get back over here make sure you give me a message, and if ever ai get to Vegas I’ll buy the first round.
Jim Spence you are a decent human being, spot on tonight.
I turned it over from STV to BBC BBC wins hands down again.
The question i want someone to ask, why should a newco avoid paying possibly £134 million and then waltz straight back in to the SPL debt free while all other clubs are in debt and our club run a tight ship.
SOAL ,
HH . you had a good day ?
Swanseabhoy
it will be on iplayer
worth watching – apart from the Rangers “historian” who couldnt resist a bit of ludicrous whataboutery – about aberdeen ! I wont spoil it for you.
When is a name change not really a name change?
I remember reading a book which talked about the Hun saying ” the club’s name is always preceded with the definite article. The club is known as The Rankers and Iborcs is always referred to as The Stadium”.
I think the name of the newco plays upon this to,convince th orcs that history is intact. To me, this name is too close to the name of the oldco. I hope they are booted out of football forever.
Ggh
Did Michael Kelly have an EBT from the huns? Nothing would surprise me with that hun in Tim’s clothing!
Doc ,
Is Gordon Brewer of BBC, an ex – St Modans Bhoy ? sure I read that somewhere.
Anyway what a fantastic Day
DJBEE on 14 June, 2012 at 23:27 said:
Does anyone know how to make a Chinese lantern, Blue Peter stlyle?
http://www.lantern-festival.com/how-to-make-lantern
I’m in G42, hear fireworks going off nearby. Anyone on here??
Watched the first half hour on stv which was garbage, thought NBC analysis much better with excellent chair. Jim Spence giving his usual non old firm opinion and is clearly someone who is honest and up front. May cancel my subscription to the Herald as a result of Wilson, clearly on the blue side of the city. Reading about Kelly on stv but guys what do you expect. Although steeped in Celtic history, he took us to the brink and was ever only interested in himself.