Thoroughly enjoying yesterday’s coordinated effort by Newco fans who have rushed to the coattails of Dave King. To be fair to the fans, the time for them to act was years ago, before Sir David Murray set Oldco on a path to destruction, there is little positive that can be done now. Still, that’s no reason to dive headlong into destruction.
After the debacle of 2012, when Oldco were liquidated, the assets were scooped up by people who wanted to make a lot of money. The moment Charles Green and his consortium owned the assets, this reality should have been acknowledged. No amount of 13th hour Blue Knight revisionism was going to change things.
Green made off with his money a year ago, but as a consequence of that, there are newer investors, with exactly the same objectives. There are also local investors in the form of the Easdale brothers. Neither of these groups will be bullied into submission.
King’s escrow plan, which hopes to gain security of the stadium and Murray Park, cannot be accommodated by the club. How many fans do you think they will convince to hand their season ticket money over, 1000? As many as 3000? Whatever your guess figure, this does not have the look of a high participation endeavour.
With many more fans likely to renew, and more still likely to be completely turned off by the nonsense, the The Rangers Football Club Ltd have a legal duty to their shareholders (Rangers International PLC) and creditors (coincidentally, also Rangers International PLC) to retain security of company assets. Placing them beyond the reach of creditors would be a remarkably brave and self-defeating act.
It now suits the club for King’s plan to appear to be effective, or at the very least, reduce season ticket renewals to a trickle. They can cite this as the action which tips The Rangers Football Club Ltd into administration. As the overwhelmingly major creditor, Rangers International would control this administration and their agents will set about reducing costs.
I would expect to see Newco to continue trading as a youth team for the foreseeable future, with Rangers International taking security of Ibrox and Murray Park, to satisfy their unresolved debt. This will be sold to the masses as ‘securing the stadium’, but it would be the key separation of club and stadium which King as sought to prevent.
Going forward, The Rangers Football Club Ltd will have no significant assets, no playing assets to speak of, and a substantial rental to pay to Rangers International, whose shareholders will still require their financial return. Don’t lose sight of this, the Piper Always Needs to be Paid. Always.
I haven’t revisited the RIPLC accounts which drew comment last week (might be worth an update later), but the important information to glean from them is the cost of running a football operation at a stadium which can occasionally host >40,000 people. You’re looking at circa £19m annually, before you employ a footballer.
I don’t see a way forward. This is a dead multi-club football franchise, killed by 1,000 reckless acts. Even the youth team scenario is unaffordable.
The hedge funds will know this already. Remember what John Brown claims Charles Green told him he would do to Ibrox if he was messed with? Raze it to the ground, apparently. After Newco Youth Team has spent a year-or-so bouncing around, we’ll hear that Ibrox is unsustainable as a football stadium (which I could believe). It will be razed and re-designated as an industrial area.
Celtic better have their plans in place now, as should the rest of Scottish football. There was a notion that there would be a three year hiatus before it was business as usual. This will not be the case.
We need to stand together, as a club, and with other clubs, wherever possible. We need to support the game, primarily through season ticket purchases, but we must find common ground with other clubs and fans.
Leppings Lane
Everything was wrong about football back then. Stadiums were not so much designed, they were built to fit the space and available materials. The lower Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough will be remembered as the worst terracing in football but, in truth, it was just where the next big disaster happened. It could have been anywhere.
After a decade or so of football hooliganism in England, fans were penned in, 8’ fences blocked entrance to the field, some topped with barbed wire. If you were at the fence, you were staying there until the thousands behind you headed home. Hampden Park had these fences, a legacy of the 1980 Cup Final, but they were absent from other grounds in Scotland. The Jungle had some high fencing but with regular breaks. If you wanted to get onto the field, you could do so.
Leppings Lane had further chronic safety violations. As well as a fence at the front the terrace was divided into four pens with fences running back to front. Once through the turnstile, fans were free to choose which pens to join; most would choose the central two. Of course they would.
The central two pens were accessed via a tunnel running under the upper stand. On That Day, fans entering at the rear of the tunnel had no inclination of the crush ahead. By the time they were part of the crush, others had gathered behind them. Space to retreat was quickly lost.
The outer pens were empty, the central two, death-traps. Fans piling into the tunnel knew nothing of the crisis ahead.
For some minutes it was possible for the police to burst open the pens and allow fans to flood free onto the pitch but they were still in crowd control mode. By the time they realised there was a disaster underway, it was too late.
There were lies and cover-ups. Fans were blamed, and accused of atrocious acts, all untrue. The government were complicit. The Sun were the worst media offenders but by no means the only one.
Two weeks ago a fresh inquiry into the events of that day opened in Warrington. At long last, the truth, which we’ve all known for years, will out. Too late for many campaigners and bereaved, who died fighting the combined weight of the establishment, but welcome nonetheless.
Tomorrow, CQN’er, Iain McGovern, sets off on a 232 mile walk from Celtic Park to Anfield, where he hopes to arrive 11 days later, in aid of the Lola Commons Fund for SiMBA. It’s his way of commemorating Hillsborough. Supporting him could be yours.
I’m delighted (actually excited) to confirm John Hughes will be on the blog on Thursday morning. John is Celtic’s seventh highest goal scorer in our 126 year history. He has remarkable insights into some of the great times and characters of our history. Tune in and ask him questions online.
[calameo code=000390171b8e5a2cffbcc lang=en page=114 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
828 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- »
jamesgang
Unfortunately footballers want to play in big games. Stokes wants to beat Rangers or any club disguised as Rangers.
I think the players are itching to get at them. Do you not think that watching them at the weekend the Celtic players sitting in their homes were gutted they couldn’t get the bragging rights by destroying them?
Footballers will not care much for the politics like the fans will. They have a simple outlook on life. They just want to play football and win games.
Some are more enlightened than others and I think our captain has spoken well on the subject recently but this club that play at Ibrox are on the horizon and maybe not next year but possibly the year after will be in the same league as Celtic.
Glasgow is an emotionally charged city and Stokes has some previous in Broxburn. Was he making his life outside the game a wee bit easier? Who knows? I doubt it would make much difference. We don’t live in their world. We don’t know what is being said. I would be surprised if the club had any official line the players had to follow for a PC. If it were me the line I would feed all the players is that I’m here to talk about Celtic. If they do ask about Rangers then you answer with they are not in our league and we have no fixtures with them this season or next, when we do play them I will talk about them.
If there is no company line then the players are answering with their own opinion.
If some of our club legends were part of this squad by that I mean the Lions, Henrik, Dalglish, McGrain, Aitken, McStay, etc. Do you not think they would miss these games? Course they would.
I’m not going to slate Tony Stokes because he said he misses the games. It’s his opinion like a number of people on here have admitted. The only time Stokes annoys me is when he fails to hit the back of the net.
LB
The Battered Bunnet
09:37 on 16 April, 2014
Is there anything that’s factually incorrect in these comments?
#################
“Rangers are a fantastic club with a great history. They will, in not too long a time, be back in the SPL. I have no doubt about that.
“And they’re needed for Scottish football because of their following, the size of the club and especially their history. We certainly would like to contest with them every week. We believe we have a better team and management structure.
“For us, it’s disappointing that they are not there but that’s decisions by the various clubs and leagues and we accept those.
“Rangers are one of the great clubs in Britain and we have to acknowledge that.
“They are a motivation for us to go along and beat them in every Old Firm match, so we miss that opportunity.”
LB
He must annoy you enough already then!
With you 100% on the no comment, not in our league line to take.
That in itself would be progress.
Def aff oot noo!
HH jamesgang
I think most of us are just frustrated as hell with this. We’ve had a couple of years now of everyone from the SFA, the SPFL and the MSM referring to them as ‘Rangers’. We’ve had to continually endure pundits and so called experts peddling a myth that this is the same club.
Most of us want someone, and it could be anyone but most of us would wish it to be Celtic, to come out and say THIS IS A NEW CLUB.
It looks as if that is never going to happen.
It doesn’t mean I’ll give up on Celtic, not yet anyway, but it leaves me angry, frustrated and polarised from those in charge at Celtic.
Dharma Bam \o/ stands up for Neil Lennon
I never said that people couldn’t comment, I said:
“If you love the Celtic and can afford to or are physically able to support your team next year, renew or buy a season ticket.
If you don’t, then don’t but don’t come on here and patronise us who do with, “I will only buy a season ticket if” then name your preconditions…Celtic buy a £10 million striker, Celtic squash the SFA, Celtic state the Huns are deid etc………”
Its the patronising that gets to me.
Last word on the subject need to get my creative head on, laters………..
RobinBhoy
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
Well said mate .
BMCUWP
One of my first conscious memories as a human being, was seeing Bobby Lennox at CP, I was struck dumb with amazement at 6 yrs old.
That will always stay with me.
The players we have all seen over the years at Celtic, have given us so much joy.
Great supporters like your good self, will always be the lifeblood of Celtic, but I fear that the Celtic we grew up with, are being diluted by the PLC.
It sickens me to see the Celtic board doff the cap to corruption.
PL and co, can do what they like….they will never take Celtic from our hearts.
HH
Agree to disagree then.
Thanks for closing the conversation.
Most thoughtful
Reply from JPT same as above – my reply to him as follows:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John Paul – thanks for your reply, which I do appreciate.
To clarify – are you saying that Celtic have been told officially by a third party specifically to refer to another team by their incorrect name? It is just another instance, in a long line, where Celtic have been complicit – if in no other way than by their tacit acceptance of blatant lies and half-truths continually espoused by the football authorities with regards the status of the newest senior club in Scottish football – in perpetuating the ‘Old Firm’, ‘we need Rangers (sic) back’, ‘Rangers were relegated’, etc. myth.
As I mentioned yesterday – I and many others have been and remain extremely disappointed, and somewhat saddened, by our club’s apparent unwillingness to do anything to publicly to highlight the ‘same-club’ lie, and to therefore support it to become an accepted fact. Unfortunately, I do not expect to see any change in this complicit approach.
Again – thank you nevertheless for your reply.
Kind regards – ‘BGFC’
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HH
BGFC
I’m sure that, in his interview, Stokes was asked many things and gave many answers. Isn’t it funny though that the piece about Sevco was the bit which was pushed in the media?
It just goes to show what is going on in this place. They promote the buggers whenever they can while, at the same time, doing down Celtic. It’s just as it always has been and always will be.
KevJungle
08:15 on
16 April, 2014
Sorry mate but Neil Lennon was a Celtic supporter long before he signed for the club – he played for both Lurgan Celtic & Belfast Celtic boys prior to signing for Manchester City
It had nothing to do with MON wafting money under his nose and Neil knew exactly what the reaction from the Huns would be when he signed
Frankly mate your talking s#@te
I’m angry at Stokes for what he said but should we be surprised?
He’s only supporting what’s already been said by DD.
As long as the big lie is repeated, and repeated, it will be accepted.
That….is what we must fight.
We can have no faith in the Celtic board to speak up for their own supporters, but we can challenge the big lie….we must.
We cannot allow them to re-write history.
HH
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar @ 10.15 hrs
“I’m not going to slate Tony Stokes because he said he misses the games. It’s his opinion like a number of people on here have admitted. The only time Stokes annoys me is when he fails to hit the back of the net”
—————————————————–
Firstly I apologise for only selecting the final paragraph of your post and I hope you do not think I’m taking it out of context.
I would add a rider stating :- also when he also brings the club into disrepute.
Proof that Private education can not guarantee sense and judgement.
HH.
Is it too much to ask that our club comes out with a statement that supports the feelings of most fan(I know I know).
Ht ,Ernie Lynch & BGFC among others
Well said this morning.
For me for the moment I will remain pay as you go,
.This under 17s game to be played at celtic park……gives the board a great opportunity to test the reaction of fans and to get the “auld firm” thing rejuvenated…..shooorly celtic park is not a neutral venue……and are rangers complaining…..are they hell…..let them see what they are missing..15k fans will probably show up…..surprised they didn’t make the entrance fee say 30 pence or thereabouts..that way full a house guaranteed…..no siree that would have been too obvious…..big Pierre will be telling the slimeball Ogilvie……ill do my best campbell
The Green Man
And you Sir :))))
Well said.
Till later all babysitting calls
Back in….for a wee while….
_______________________
cliftonville celt from belfast praying for Oscar the wee legend
10:30 on 16 April, 2014
___________________
Aye, ah talk sh#te – I’ll not be out of place on here then.
HT
Scott Brown has said that he misses them and wants them back ,he simply misses the matches against them.
TT
Id say, that someone on the sevco side has been reading mein kampf as a guide.
To them, its a propaganda war, which they are winning hands down.
The Big Lie indeed.
HH
TT
As I said why should we be surprised?
For the Stokesy bhuoy to come out and say we need competition..youre having a laugh….15 goal striker…..the guy cant even get a place in the CL Teams……maybe the rangers is his level…….keep it shut and do your talking on the park
Frank Kopel R.I.P
Hebcelt
Folk have been referring to this for 2 years now. The original football club incorporated in 1898 as “The Rangers Football Club Limited”.
At the time of incorporation, ‘members’ of the ‘club’ became ‘shareholders’ in the ‘company’.
The articles are explicit in that the terms ‘club’ and ‘company’ and ‘member’ and ‘shareholder’ are to be “of synonymous meaning”. That was the directing mind of the founders.
That entity went bust and is being currently liquidated.
Sevco Scotland Ltd acquired the right to rename itself “The Rangers Football Club Limited” on July 31st 2012, and changed the name accordingly. This occurred 2 days after “Sevco Scotland Ltd” fielded a team at Brechin City. It had previously acquired the trade marks of Rangers FC.
The original company, incorporated from the club, was “The Rangers etc”, trading as Rangers FC. When it changed status to a plc, its name was “The Rangers Football Club plc” trading as Rangers FC.
The new company has adopted the very same name as the old one.
HT, 67H, Ernie
I share your unease in the way the club has handled this. I’m not entirely sure what they ought to do about it. I know what I’d like them to do – acknowledge reality – and at the same time, doing so is likely to cause significant negative impact.
Problem is, saying nothing is permissive in terms of the great fabrication. The problem is not of Celtic’s making. It’s the SFA’s. Unless and until the SFA acknowledge the emperor’s nudity, the sham will continue with or without Celtic’s opinion.
I admire the guys at Gretna for their honesty and humility. Their town used to have a football team. It was important to the people of the town. It still has a football team. It’s theirs. They own it, and they support it.
It’s just not the same ‘club’ as the one they used to support. They care not a jot. Others could learn from them.
CLIFTONVILLE CELT
Much more forthright than my attempt at subtlety earlier.
Well said,mate.
Anyone can post opinions,it’s a blog,but to dress them up as the proverbial FACTS,and hurtful-professionally and personally-at that,is bang wrong.
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
10:31 on
16 April, 2014
I’m angry at Stokes for what he said but should we be surprised?
He’s only supporting what’s already been said by DD.
===
And NL and PL etc etc. Anto said nothing that senior members of the board and management staff haven’t repeatedly said already. As far as i can recall no one at Celtic FC has gone on record to dispute that claim that the liquidated club and Zombie resurrection FC are one and the same. That is asides from a flippant remark made at an AGM. Does anyone honestly believe that Celtic players are given free rein to say what they want to the press during interviews?
The biggest power-mongers in Scottish football
at present are – the Celtic ‘bored’.
But, the big draw-back is…Celtic fans need to light
the fuse.
Please stop being sheep and bleeting….
“…oh, I wish the ‘bored’ would make a statement…etc…boohoo.”
What a pile of nickers.
The Celtic support have been conditioned to being – hoodwinked
by folk like….PL – Rory Bremner lol lol effin lol
The ‘bored’ must do handstands when they see Phil…conveniently
dropping stuff about the huns and, hey-ho….all the Celtic sheep are
awe content again. As I said…lol lol lol. Dafties.com.
Do what you ‘NEED’ to do and, get a board who will not stand by and,
let our beloved Celtic become the establishments punchbags !!!
Only ‘YOU’ can do it.
Apathy or anarchy ?
Up the rebels(if theres any left?)
Bring back the Jungle NOW !!!
With season ticket renewal date looming it is make up their mind time for many Celtic fans.
If you are happy with the club’s attitude towards Rangers and the SFA renew and keep buying merchandise.
If you are unhappy with the club’s attitude towards Rangers and he SFA do not renew and stop buying the merchandise.
The so called fans who miss the Sevco games are found to be missing on a Saturday…..and the “strangers” who sit next to you at the CL games
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oeduPujTuyI
Frank Kopel RIP – A tough opponent
Greenpinata
Not sure Stokes has done that to be honest.
His case for fighting with an Elvis impersonator is still pending I believe. Maybe he said he was Elvis and Stokes wasn’t happy with that and punched his lights out. Now he has learned his lesson and realised it is just better if we all get along!
I worry about Stokes on the pitch and he should be scoring more regulalry. He should be hitting 30 goals this season.
LB
I take it that any Celtic player, missing the R****** games, have not been on the receiving end of a bucky bottle thrown by one of their rabid hun fans, its not a nice feeling.
HH
leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon
10:49 on 16 April, 2014
Frank Kopel R.I.P
______________
Sorry news indeed.
Is it us?
Thinking about it, over the last few years we’ve had several people that we would expect to say they have no desire to play them again stating the opposite.
DD, NL, some of the current playing staff and even guys we considered good Tims like Aiden McGeadie have said that Scottish football has suffered since the Huns’ demise and the lack of an ‘Old Firm’ fixture has resulted in a lack of competition.
Oh well, it must be us.
THE GREEN MAN 1022
I agree entirely.
But our argument is not with Celtic,it is with the way the suits are doing things.
This isn’t the early 90s where our very survival was at risk unless we ousted the board.
Much as I dislike it,I would hate any Celtic fan to turn their back on the club because of that lot Mk2.
frank ryan’s whiskey ” independance for shetland now”
10:50 on 16 April, 2014
Our posts crossed :-)
My post at 10:52 only reiterates your views.
why is nobody on giving celtic a kicking
over the form of james keatings for Hamilton
scored as many goals as stokes this season
james keatings competitive bench sitting for celtic
Wed 10th Nov 2010 PL Hearts 2-0 Celtic
Tue 01st Feb 2011 PL Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic
Sat 14th Jan 2012 PL Celtic 2-1 Dunbee Utd
Sat 18th Aug 2012 PL Ross County 1-1 Celtic
Sun 28th Apl 2013 PL Motherwell 3-1 Celtic
Sun 05th May 2013 PL Ross County 1-1 Celtic
hail hail
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
10:55 on
16 April, 2014
THE GREEN MAN 1022
I agree entirely.
But our argument is not with Celtic,it is with the way the suits are doing things.
This isn’t the early 90s where our very survival was at risk unless we ousted the board.
Much as I dislike it,I would hate any Celtic fan to turn their back on the club because of that lot Mk2.
Unfortunately at present the ‘suits’ are Celtic and will remain so as long as the fans money props them up.