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.
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TONY DONNELLY
Dunno about the dog shit,was always told it was lucky if a pigeon got you though.
Personally,I disagree,as I reckon they practice it!
Good luck at the hospital.
Super Sallary’s TV career in waiting especially now with widescreen, HD and even 3D pictures is hopefully a long way away .
Quite how you manage to assemble the flotsam he has from the blankest of canvass’s the cleanest of slates, over two years and today they not so much as a potential prospect, let alone player, really is a remarkable achievement.
Playing staff being paid more than four times the salary of a Dundee Utd or Aberdeen, not mention the rest of the SPL this man has single handedly constricted the new club to the darkness and la la land.
A clueless man with no football credentials,before during or after, backed by the Billy Boys the Spivs and MSM like most of his contemporaries from the club that died.
In playing the McCoist card they played the wrong card, the No Surrender card the one that strangles their pathetic existence.
LongLiveTheSnowman CSC
[/i]
Writing sloping,must be time for my bed!
TALLYBHOY
How are the gin stocks in yer wee corner of Ayrshire?
Hillsborough Memorial Service live on LTV SKY 429 @ 2.40.Goodison also opening it’s doors and showing service on big screens.
Paul67
Very good article. Just watched LFC-TV and their feature on the ’89 game at Celtic Park – an excellent affinity exists between our Clubs.
Justice for the 96.
H!H!
Sleekit in WIDESCREEN and 3D?!
Even the mega screen at CP for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games wouldnae be wide enough to fit his obese frame in!
HH!!
close italics
test
Great post today Paul, eloquent as ever.
Just wanted to pop in to see if anyone remembers this song at all? It’s not a Celtic one but it’s Celtic related, despite the title, and is dedicated to WGS. It came on BBC 6 Music last night and I had a good old laugh at it.
I had never heard it before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3evEhZ7HyO8
Paul67
On the matter of a different future for Scottish football (which will be the ultimate step in the grief at loss process I.e Acceptance) I think it is a matter all smaller nations in footballing terms have to talk to UEFA and the ECA about.
Either leagues get restructured to spread the luv or the luv gets spread by other means.
In a purely Scottish context creaming off just £3m of the CL rewards for qualifying would allow a solidarity payment that could be used specifically to keep good developing Scottish players at home.
That £3m would allow 12 clubs to top up the weekly wage they can offer by nearly £5k a week for one player each to keep a promising youngster in Scotland a year longer.
Rules for qualifying would be required but the players would have to had at least one full season of first team football behind them and showed enough promise for other clubs to want to sign them. It would be good for the players development, good for the clubs and good for competition.
The downside at present is £3m less in Celtic coffers, especially if it were voluntary, but my argument is that £3m is not going to buy significant CL advancement.
It would be better presentationally if UEFA just creamed off enough centrally and redistributed but that takes a lot of agreement to gather and in the meantime our game withers from lack of nourishment.
The point is that the future cannot be built on the failed thinking of the past. We can learn from it what does not work, in order to build something that does. That means a whole ( in the sense of looking at the whole rather than the parts) new mindset and that does not seem to have emerged -yet.
Oh well, worth a try ….
BMCUW
Only day 3 of my visit.
Gin stocks appear to be holding out.
However another 32 to go!
Visit to the supermarket planned later – need red wine as well.
HH!!
Just finished the Seville book… Superb read (apart from the lack of italics). Some great stories. Had forgotten about the security people putting the brach balls through the x-ray machine as recalled by Blantyre Kev
Rangers are dead. The tribute act will follow suit. You can have all the handshakes and favours you want but if you have no money (in football) you are powerless.
That is how we beat them.
TGSC,
Sailing On….
Ps Can we agree not to post about TV shows from now on. Not everyone watches as they are aired for the first time. Thanks.
Bold
Auldheid 13:58
It would be better presentationally if UEFA just creamed off enough centrally and redistributed but that takes a lot of agreement to gather
———————————————————————–
With several high profile clubs sailing pretty close to the wind re FFP, UEFA are in a strong negotitating position right now. Whether they WANT to use that strong position is another matter…..
Wee side story from Seville I had forgotten.
We flew out via Glasgow/ London/Madrid/Seville and same route back. Four of us, three Tims and a follower of deidco who came along as his daughter, a Tim, was travelling with us and he wanted to savour the experience.
Anyone who travelled via Madrid train station may recall that it had airport like security I.e. Body scanners and x ray machines.
What became evident as we passed through the security checks ( four checks on route out and four back ) was that the security machine went off every time the deidco follower went through them, whilst the rest of us went through with no issues.
Despite all his attempts to identify what set the machines off he never got to the bottom of why they only went off for him. By the end of the trip the security checks were nicknamed ‘the hun detectors’ :))))
did it work ?
obviously not LOL
pigalle
Just move your head to the right and the font looks fine :-)
” It will be razed and re-designated as an industrial area.”
I wish we’d thought of that last week instead of Red Road – Unidentified Commonwealth Games source…
Glasgow’sGreenandWhiteCSC
Glasstwothirdfull
Indeed but an idea I meant to add was to fine the club’s failing FFP, but then use THAT money to increase solidarity payments to national leagues (not Associations) to be used to fund initiatives to restore some sense of balance to the game.
Of course carried to it logical absurdity UEFA could just ask the Man City Sheik to split and distribute the fine himself cutting out the middleman.
The greatest challenge to FFP is owners like the Man City one with bottomless pockets. A billion £ fine might make him blink though.
Love the occasional use of italics.
Puts a whole new slant on things.
HH!!
Aston Villla promote Gordon Cowans and Shay Given to Assistant Managers ,after suspending the guys who were holding those positons
I think Paul67 is being a wee bit mischievous .
Ayebrokes would struggle to sell for any decent amount of money for a a commercial or industrial use other than as a football stadium.
the owners would therefore struggle to get a decent return on their investment going down that route.
Land all around Ayebrokes was almost gifted away recently.
Don’t see it myself.
TT
Estorilbhoy
I seem to remember similar allegations when Murray’s son organised ‘charity’ old firm veteran’s games.
Celtic advertising the Glasgow Cup Final as Celtic v Rangers.
Oh dear…..
Estoril Bhoy pmsl !!!!!!
Ah…the advent of new technology where the Hun bell is replaced by the electronic scanner lol !
Don’t think that would catch on in a certain CSC In Toronto ;))
FFP…
Jim White (not that one) in Daily Telegraph I think, was making the point of distinction between good owners and bad owners.
He used the example of a past Birmingham owner Causten (?) who was in effect a crook as against the middle east owners of Man City who decide to pump millions in just for the profile and joy of the ride.
Now one may be bad for the ongoing health of the game but it is the other, the crooks, asset strippers etc. are likely to destroy whole clubs.
Both situations need addressed but FFP will not actually do either.
Anyone fancy a wee shot at the tables?
http://i.minus.com/i49tw2yqiFdfv.gif
LOL
HH
I’m Neil Lennon (tamrabam)
13:17 on 15 April, 2014
BMCUW
unfortunately im out of UK for a while
would anyone who is attending and knows how to make a MP3 out of a 12 inch vinyl be so kind as to get this record and digitalise it and passit around
Especially good for any old punk rocker types from the Grey Brigade and folk who generally like a laff!
————————————————————
Tam/Bobby –
I have the facility to convert vinyl to MP3 (and other formats) and would be happy to do so for a fellow Celt. I recently converted the vinyl copy of “Lover’s Guitar” by Chet Atkins for a lovely old lady in Australia. It was one of her husband’s favourites. He passed away almost 40 years ago and had lent the record to a firend. She was unable to get a copy on CD. I found a vinyl version and converted for her, also removing some clicks and pops. She was very happy to hear it after all these years.
Let me know if I can help.
To all the “auldyins”………….
Spent a couple of hours reading through posts on the last thread…… Awakened many memories of the 60’s and early 70’s. So long ago now but can still recall the sounds.. Not to mention the smells… And the beer cans.
Many thanks from one who doesn’t get the chance for frequent visits anymore.
HH
NATKNOW
Can you-or someone who knows you-make May 10?
If so,job done.
Paul67 et al
The wheels of British justice turn slowly, and that is when they turn at all. In recent days I have read that, or heard, that 70 inquests into killings in Northern Ireland, the majority nationalist, have yet to be concluded, that in the last year there have been 89 suicides in the British penal system, some only teenagers, and that it is now twenty five years since the Hillsborough Disaster. The British Police behaved in a similar fashion before and after 1989, attacks on striking miners, attacks on travellers, and more recently attacks on students protesting against tuition fees and trade unionists protesting against cuts to public services. The statistic above re deaths in custody, (up from 51 the previous year) are a direct result of some of those cuts. And remember too that until the new Wembley was built The London Police routinely, put exiting football supporters and concert goers lives at risk, by fencing off spill-off areas to the concrete tunnel, (with low soffit), leading to the stadium’s underground stations, not only enabling crush conditions, but deliberately causing them. The Met of course being on the other side of the two metre high fencing. All this years after Hillsborough. Let us not forget it is the very absence of justice for the 96 that has allowed the politicians and the police to continue to treat ordinary people with contempt time and time again. And that is why we need to stand alongside the people of Liverpool today. Justice for the 96 and their families, friends and neighbours.
Paul 67
Thought I’d tip you the wink, that a few Huns on Twitter are not happy with your header today. You must’ve wrote something truthful. Anyway, they’re gonny get their lawyers onto you.
I presume, on a no-win no-fee basis!
I hope this doesn’t affect your sleep!
HH
John Hughes features in all of these. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WraGh4v4OX8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG_CVX3SGeA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxLgmfB73sI
Cracking article Paul 67, been waiting for that one to come out, great reading back this morning about the old songs too..
Sun’s oot, CQN in form, orcs in disarray, the Big Tim is way to good to me!!