So-called spivs only ones to cough up again

It appears that the so-called spivs are once again the only people likely to put their hands in their pockets to fund the coming season’s shortfall at Newco Rangers.  There has been a campaign for much of this year to drive the club into the gutter, although on this occasion no one has accused Celtic fans, the SFA, HMRC or various imaginary enemies of acting in an underhand manner.  These moves were all the work of formerly loyal Rangers men, who wanted ownership of Newco on the cheap, or some kind of influence thereafter.

The ‘spivs’ have not been intimidated or been blackmailed into handing over the club to hostile forces.  Instead they are prepared to invest again, stay the course and see a return on their money.

‘Spivs’ is an unnecessarily pejorative term but if money comes in from the variety of hedge funds and offshore entities it will not be a gift.  Neither was the initial investment of £5.5m, or the subsequent monies raised at the IPO.

It’s too late to complain about who owns the club, or that a collection on wealthy fans could have bought the assets of Rangers on the cheap when Charles Green stepped in.  Campaigns to undermine the club will not bring about a dramatic change, they will only weaken an already painfully weak entity.

Two years ago someone inside the game told me ‘the Rangers you know are dead, whether they phoenix or not.’  The outfit which exists now will forever be a bit-part player, which even Dave King recognises is an untenable commercial proposition.

Remember, Tommy Gemmell, Bertie Auld and John Hughes will be signing copies of their books at the Celtic Store in Argyle St from 1pm until 4pm on Saturday. Take a camera.
And before that, Bertie Auld will be live on CQN from 1pm this Friday. Expect anecdote overload.

Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.

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