Apparently, time for Rangers fans to step forward to save their club has passed. For the want of £500k any one or collection of them could have bought an exclusive period as preferred bidder and worked on a rescue but no one stepped forward.
It is perhaps worthwhile reflecting on our hour of need 18 years ago. Celtic had exceeded their agreed overdraft limit and the Bank of Scotland informed the club that unless the account was brought back into agreed limits that day, it would go to court to appoint an administrator.
Back then there were no transfer windows, so players could, and would, have been sold by the administrator the next day. Celtic would have been left with an unwanted shell of a squad.
Word of the impending doom spread around the Celtic business community and John Keane decided to act. He withdrew £1m from his account and paid it straight into Celtic’s account at the Bank of Scotland.
John did this in the hope that he could buy time for the Celtic Movement to pull a rescue together. The bank could still have withdrawn the overdraft the same day, which would have made him an unsecured creditor with no chance of a return. There was also no agreement signed to secure the transfer of the club from the old board, each member of whom would later be dealt with on an individual basis, as shares were sold, or in the case of Kevin Kelly, pledged behind Fergus McCann’s consortium.
John kept his money in Celtic and received a seat on the new board, which he retains. He declined to appear in the publicity photos on the steps of Celtic Park when the club was rescued and although he attends the AGM every year, he remains a quiet and largely unknown figure. He has since invested more in Celtic, money he will never see back, but which has ensured his family can block a Glazier-style takeover of Celtic.
I have spoken to him once or twice, although he doesn’t know who I am, but I have often thought he deserves a standing ovation at the AGM for what he did all those years ago. Maybe this year.
We can only wonder why there was not a John Keane across the city.
Very well done to the Daily Record for their excellent story about CQN’er Tony Conway today. Tony, who now lives in the United States, suffers from motor neuron disease and made the trip back to Celtic Park last year with his Dad, John, and brother, Martin. They spent time with Jinky’s son James and met a host of people at the club, including Neil Lennon and Billy McNeill.
Read it, it’s a great story.
Remember to keep an eye on the signed Celtic shirt being auctioned for Wellburn Care Home, it ends Monday.
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Nike is the Greek godess of Victory.
Adidas is,well….Adidas.
Cod Mess Per Travesty
S’themsinyoo Hand Dusters
smashingmilk bottles
I knocked at Declan’s door earlier but I dont think he’s allowed out this afternoon.
CQN musicophiles [and ole Johnny Clash] may wish to note that excellent CQNer Leo Sayer is on tour this autumn, with David Cassidy, Hot Chocolate and Smokie.
Gettin’ ole Leo to do the Paradise Windfall would be a tremendous boost, and would lighten up the anthracite clad Timmite legions.
Is there no preferred bidder today?
No change there, then.
ASonOfDan
the curry and beer didnae help :)
Philbhoy, your task , if you choose to accept it, is to be today’s ‘preferred bidder’.
I kno’ from the cut of your jib you’re just the man to lead the Hillbillies out of their current doldrums.
Keep reminding yersels…Bill Millionaire is the bagman for a Russian hedgefund called Prometheus; asset strippers & ‘vulture capitalists’.
Not content with taking crap from CW,the huns are now playing with fire.
The end is nigh.
Dontbrattbakkinanger on 2 May, 2012 at 16:01 said:
CQN musicophiles [and ole Johnny Clash] may wish to note that excellent CQNer Leo Sayer is on tour this autumn, with David Cassidy, Hot Chocolate and Smokie.
Gettin’ ole Leo to do the Paradise Windfall would be a tremendous boost, and would lighten up the anthracite clad Timmite legions.
——————————————————————-
i’d prefer hot chocolate at half time. beats bovril anyday.
DBBIA
….I fear my ongoing battle with HMRC rules me out of bidding for anything!
However, when my repayment plan ends, in October, 2012, I may reconsider my position, always assuming they are still looking for a preferred anything.
Does John Keane have a tendency to say Calm Down Calm Down?
Only askin like….!!!!
miki67 on 2 May, 2012 at 15:55 said:
Nike is the Greek godess of Victory.
Adidas is,well….Adidas.
___
Adidas, is named after Adolf (Adi) Dasler.
Ther is s story of how he fell out with his brother who set up a competing sport shoe company (might have been Puma) and they never spoke for years. There were two football teams in there home town one wore Adidas shoes the other his brothers. They never made up and the brothers are buried in different cemetries on the opposite sides of the town.
I’d heard the story but know nothing of their political aligiences. Though VW haven’t hed any problems with that, and wasn’t it Boss who made the suits for the Gestapo?
Ten Men Won The League on 2 May, 2012 at 14:29 said:
Look at this belter from a year ago today
====================
It will now end
RANGERS TAKEOVER DEAL FINALLY SEALED
Craig Whyte will become the new owner in time to hand manager in waiting Ally McCoist a war-chest
Monday May 2,2011
By Andy McInnes
The deal will mark an end to Murray’s 22 year association with Rangers during which time they have won and lost 36 trophies as well as 15 out of 22 League Titles as well as a UEFA Cup Final appearance that they lost, which is just as well really. :)
I’m lost!!!
There are more TommyTwistTommyTurns and Jinkies in this whole saga than there were episodes of Lost.
Can anyone remember the ending?
MWD still watching although thoroughly baffled.
PS. Ernie Lynch are yee aboot? You taking Paul up on his offer? C’mon Ernie!
Had tae chuck the old fags when I got my wee heart problem…..but….lo’ n behold….the local newsagent started selling the now famous, (thanks to CQN) E-Lites. “That’ll do for me” says I.
“Yes Zur?” says the shop assistant
“I’ll have wan ae they E-Lite kid oan fags there hen” ah said
“There ye go zur, rat’s a wee stairter fag fur ye” she says
“Smashin” ah replies, H’long diz rat last?
“It’s ra equvalent uv 40 fags” she says
“N whit dae a dae when it runs oot?” ah asked
“Jist buy a cupl a rese wee filter fings” she says
“Awright” ah says, “Gimme a cupl ae thaim as well”
“Yill bi wantin ra charger wi raim iz well a take it?” she asked
“If a need it tae get a kid oan shmoak ah suppose so” ah said
“Iz rat everthin?” she asked
“Aye” says me
“RAT’LL BE £24.00 ZUR “ she says
Needless tae say ah’ll no be gaun oot furra cupla weeks…..ah’m away furra shmoak
greenmaestro on 2 May, 2012 at 16:06 said:
and wasn’t it Boss who made the suits for the Gestapo?
————————————————————————–
surprised they’re not doing the new rangers strips.
Rethe 6-3 Soton/Man Utd game.Future Celts/Huns featured extensively .Eyal Berkovic scored 2,Roy Keane was sent off and future Hun legend Ogil Ostenstad scored a hat-trick!As has been mentioned previously this was not the Grey Shirrt game(this was the previous year)-think Man Utd wore the Blue Stripe shirt that day but could be wrong.
Dontbrattbakkinanger on 2 May, 2012 at 16:01
heard before that Leo was an arab, he covered the Michael Marra song “hamish the goallie” and there was a campaign to get him to go to Tanadice for some anniversary?? to perform the song.
Hugo Boss designed the black SS uniform [ now called the’ Ulster uniform’.
Kittoch on 2 May, 2012 at 16:06 said:
”Does John Keane have a tendency to say Calm Down Calm Down?”
That would explain his reluctance to be photographed.
When will I see you again?
When will we share precious moments?
Will I have to wait forever?
Or will I have to suffer and cry the whole night through?
When will I see you again?
When will our hearts beat together?
Are we in love or just friends?
Is this my beginning or is this the end?
When will I see you again?
(When will I see you again?)
When will I see you again?
Are we in love or just friends?
Is this my beginning or is this the end?
When will I see you again?
(When will I see you again?)
When will I see you again?
(When will I see you again?)
When will I see you again?
(When will I see you again?)
When will I see you again?
I heard a rumour today that the Huns are planning an infestation of the field of nightmares tonight during the game and they are going to have a sit down Protestation. Absolutely brilliant idea I say brilliant. Think I’ll come out in sympathy and have a roll aboot gutting masell demonstration in front of my TV, sign on to FF and sign the book of remembrance so they can add my name to the numbers who infested the nightmare field.
MWD
A lot of people going on about Man Utd’s grey strip. All I can say is that it’s a good thing we’ll have a black away strip so.
Remember, the difference between black and grey is like night and day to a Donegalman..
pedro- Leo, ne Hugh Gerard Sayer, is a lifelong Tim.
You may be confusing him with Lorraine ‘LK’ Kelly, possibly because of the hair.
Hi Paul,
Excellent piece and huge Kudos to Mr John Keane a true Celt.
Billy Dodds said at the time of the R@ngers Administration it was up to the fans to rescue their club he was spot on, somethings you just can’t delegate.
Dontbrattbakkinanger on 2 May, 2012 at 16:15
I thought Leo’s paps were looking great the last time i saw him on morning telly :-)
he did cover that song though.
jock tamson on 2 May, 2012 at 14:56 said:
alex thomson@alextomo
UEFA just called – licensing Rangers to play in SPL is solely for SFA and its licensing rules.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think this means UEFA will not get involved but the licencing power lies with the SFA and their licensing procedure says UEFA Licensing regulations applies. This means UEFA are leaving it with the SFA to apply UEFA’s licensing rules.
Since they are neglecting to do so thus far it is not encouraging but it does beg the questions why not and when will they?
It means the SPL might agree membership but the SFA have to agree the licence according to their rules, one of which is a licence is NOT transferrable and a new process has to be undergone.
Whether it is National Club Licensing or UEFA licensing both sets contain a requirement for audited accounts for three years and in Nationa Club Licencing it states the last set have to be audited and ratified at an AGM….
The buck now clearly stops with the SFA who if you recall have been intimidated by Rangers already.
Doncaster is the commercial champion and Regan the Iproxy ntegrity champion for Platini.
Interesting.
It also begs the question what do UEFA actually DO apart from coining it in?What is the point of regulations that are not applied or policed or avoided if awkward?
Tonight as the bears weep, wail and gnash their teeth when the truth hits them smack in the face that their jobby of a club is circling the pan, I hope they each to a man spare a second to remember exactly what put them into the abyss
Downfall
Cheerio.
PS We Won
I’m with DBBIA and tully57 with this.
Get both John and Fergus to raise the League Championship Flag.
Árd Macha
Moonbeams WD. Kano \o/ Neil Celtic FC. We are the Champions. Ignore the WARTS. on 2 May, 2012 at 16:14 said:
I took ithe planned pitch invasion at face value to begin with but then I remembered they were meant to be walking out at 72 minutes on Sunday. We were also planning to turn our backs for the 15th minute. It was quite an exciting point in the game and it was the 19th minute before I noticed the time. Not even the Green Brigade had turned their back.
I realy hope they invade the pitch and Boss Hogg decides not to bother with the fakeover.
Follow Follow backing TBKs and strongly opposed to The Tennessee Trillionaire (TTT).
It’s Miller time!
HH
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Ly-ynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Lynch.
Ernie Ly-ynnch.
Ernie Lunch.
MWD
Aiden’s crossing has not improved.
Wasn’t ADIDAS named after the brothers, the initials methinks…
Any clevercloggs feel free to correct.
Most of the Orcs are slaughtering Mingwall for his latest brainwave.
Mingwall & FF a perfect marriage STUPID STUPID HUNS.
The only bit of me that hopes they dont invade the park is the bit that bet Dundee utd at 9/2.
NAAAAAA on second thoughts go on you STUPID STUPID HUNS.
Furgoat tae mention that the lassie behind the coonter tried tae sell me a cork tae stick up ma bahooky so that ah cood get a decent draw ae the bloody thing.
“Much is it fur the cork?” ah asked
“Same iz everthin else zur, £7.99”
I declined