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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hamiltontim-totally ruined by Sky,there was a banner on LTV saying some content couldn’t be broadcast due to new Court Case,italso said full service will be on LTV @ 6PM & 9 PM.Martinez was speaking from the heart,hope to see the full version.HH
jamesgang @ 15.44
Great post
Good to see we’ve got the ole italics to focaccia.
Three in an empty
Not that I need too much cheering up sitting on my terrace drinking cold,cold beer,in 30 degrees,but keep these articles coming Paul.I fair lap them up.
Think we are in for the greatest hun on hun slogfest we could never have imagined.Thing is,no matter what,it aint ending well.
Happy days.
16 roads
..that Juninho of Lyon, is known here (to avoid the confusion) as “Juninho Pernambucano” retired from playing a few months ago with Vasco, where they treated him as the Prodigal Son. Dunno if he ever played against Beckham, as he’d tried a stint with Red Bull NY for a season before that.
Whatever.
I still got infinitely more pleasure out of Naka-san striking a ball than all the rest combined !
bournesouprecipe
Thanks Fhriend
Livibhoy.
Think about it Mhate. You do have a gift of the erudite gab and in this day of internet bampots the world is your oyster!
PoshChippieSuppersCSC
HH jamesgang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=uwNWBB8F3XQ
He scored some amazing free kicks but this is my favourite Naka goal
HH
livibhoy – god bless wee oscar
15:22 on 15 April, 2014
Yeah I remember it well
One of Scotland’s few World Cup victories 2-1 over Sweden
McCall and judas scored
Sally and the maestro came on as subs
Murdo and Roy played
I supported them why not you?
JFT96
http://t.co/w16GTqDtpI
I would have thought a more appropriate ‘name’ on the jersey would have been
JUSTICE
There but for the grace of God
Respect
To the 96 who went to see a football match.YNWA.may their souls rest in peace
What a fantastic read on the blog about the songs and in general following the Celtic was last night.had me smilin as they wormed their way in to my head.
‘Colin Stein superstar,walks like a wummin and he wears a bra’ to Jesus christ superstar music.
heh Paul re the whole dead multi franchise thing. Ach, sure you know yourself some occurence is going to happen
‘ C’mere theres more’…:-)
not let down so far as usually there is a ‘statement’ to make me laugh lol
HH
.
Apropos HT and Leftclick
I’m also pretty unimpressed that Stokesie is the latest to be paraded with the line that it’ll be better for Scottish fitba to have rangers back (sic/sick!)
I am however consoled that paul67 prob understands accountancy and football economics than our own Buster Brady!
HH jamesgang
leftclicktic we are all neil lennon
16:05 on 15 April, 2014
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
14:25 on 15 April, 2014
Celtic advertising the Glasgow Cup Final as Celtic v Rangers.
Oh dear…..
———-
Sickening is a better comment than oh dear,
The MSM can say what they want but it sickens me when my club plays along with the charade
Till later all
——-
I tweeted JP Taylor asking why our club were advertising it as Celtic v Rangers.
He’s just replied saying that it’s because Celtic Park is a neutral venue.
What the hell difference does that make?!
I’ve replied asking why it should still be advertised as such on the official club website.
.
Is there anyway to Watch the Walk on Doc in Australia thanks or the Hillsburgh programme..?
Summa
Margaret McGill
I supported Scotland but Mo Johnston broke my heart when he turned his back on us. I found it hard to support him even in a Scotland shirt.
I firmly believe that it took Celtic years to get over that betrayal.
When you are a wee bhoy you look up to these players. Many have left and I have been gutted, however nobody ripped my heart out like judas did.
I will never ever forgive that man for what he did. He has no honour and no respect.
It even pains me to watch old footage of him in a Celtic shirt.
I hope that explains why I found it hard to support Scotland that summer.
LB
Bada
The BBC version should be unedited mate.
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
16:26 on
15 April, 2014
leftclicktic we are all neil lennon
16:05 on 15 April, 2014
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
14:25 on 15 April, 2014
Celtic advertising the Glasgow Cup Final as Celtic v Rangers.
Oh dear…..
———-
Sickening is a better comment than oh dear,
The MSM can say what they want but it sickens me when my club plays along with the charade
Till later all
——-
I tweeted JP Taylor asking why our club were advertising it as Celtic v Rangers.
He’s just replied saying that it’s because Celtic Park is a neutral venue.
What the hell difference does that make?!
I’ve replied asking why it should still be advertised as such on the official club website.
….
Who are Celtic FC Playing then..?
Is it a Typo..?
Summa
livibhoy – god bless wee oscar
16:27 on 15 April, 2014
You need to accept that footballers are just sport mercenaries.
They learn their loyalties from their management their business and the cattle auction
tremendous post paulín
‘ No amount of 13th hour Blue Knight revisionism was going to change things.’ quote of the year.
goodbye rangers meme, you’re a debt to somebody/anybody now.
Glamrock anybody – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yGudJ_BQ0
ESPN item on Hillborough documentary showing tonight
About Hillsborough
Film Summary
“Hillsborough” is a comprehensive account of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, a tragedy that occurred during an FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. The film focuses on the events that unfolded before, during and after the horrifying afternoon that led to the deaths of 96 people as well as the injuries to several hundred more and the traumatization of countless lives.
Beginning on the fateful day in 1989, “Hillsborough” explores what happened and why. It offers a detailed examination not only of the horrific loss of life but also of key developments in the preceding years, months, weeks, days, hours and minutes leading to the disaster. Featuring first-hand accounts of fans in attendance as well as police officers — many speaking on camera for the first time — the film also explores the tragedy through the experiences of families who lost their loved ones and undertook a painstaking journey in a quest for justice that is still ongoing.
Director’s Take
April 15, 1989 is a day that will live with me forever. I remember exactly where I was when I found out about Hillsborough. So many fellow football fans — many of them my age — had been crushed to death. It chilled me to the bone. And it haunted me because — like all football fans who went regularly to games in that era — I knew it could have been me.
I’m a Sheffield Wednesday fan. This disaster occurred in my team’s stadium. I went to watch Wednesday home and away, rarely missing a match. But I wasn’t there on that day; it was an FA Cup semifinal, which meant two opposing teams from outside the city playing on a neutral ground.
Hillsborough had a tradition of hosting FA Cup semifinals — something we as Wednesday fans were proud of. Our team was never that great, but in those days our stadium held 54,000 capacity.
So many of those who died, like me, were young. They arrived in Sheffield full of hope, full of expectation. Yet they walked into a stadium, like so many others, that was not fit for purpose.
Football fans were treated like animals back then; corralled by police, herded to matches, penned by fences on crumbling terrace steps, caged by high, spiked fences. As fans we rarely questioned our treatment by the clubs we loved, by the police who controlled our movement before, during and after matches.
Hillsborough was a wake-up call. Soon after, standing at matches was outlawed in the top divisions of English football. New stadiums were built and others modernized. The old First Division was replaced by the heavily sponsored Premier League, with its glitz and glamour, round-the-clock coverage and world stars on Hollywood wages. But it came at a massive price.
I set out to make “Hillsborough” as the definitive account of the story, from the day itself, the horrific tragedy that unfolded, through the now 25-year campaign for truth and justice waged for so long by the bereaved families and by survivors.
I was well aware of the suffering of the bereaved and the survivors, but I was staggered to learn first-hand of the indignity endured by the families on the night of the disaster after they had traveled to identify their loved ones. I cried during the interviews — and I still cry at each viewing.
I hope that “Hillsborough” might respond to the myths and assumptions that surrounded the disaster for so long. In England — and especially in my home city of Sheffield — the topic remains contentious and often ill-informed. People’s views remain tainted by allegations made by the police, politicians and an often hostile media in the immediate aftermath. It shaped people’s understanding and played to their prejudices, until the powerful 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel Report finally blew away the myths and exposed how manipulative those in authority had been.
A new Inquest into the deaths begins on March 31, 25 years after the disaster.
The Lisbon lions excepted
rioskorrie
16:20 on 15 April, 2014
————————-
Indeed.
Wee Juninho was also a brilliant footballer, it has to be said.
It’s a pity things didn’t work out for him at Celtic, for one reason or another.
Charlie Tully scored twice from corners with what in modern times would be the equivalent of a medicine ball.
Now that was some feat,that as far as I know, has yet to be replicated.
HH.
Rumour mill running already?
http://www.clubcall.com/hull-city/midfielder-opts-for-celtic-1721679.html
Some “””””s in there though.
Celtic Park to host City of Glasgow Cup final
By: Newsroom Staff on 15 Apr, 2014 14:33
CELTIC are today delighted to announce that we will be hosting a third cup final this season, with the City of Glasgow Cup final now scheduled to take place here on Monday, April 28 at 7pm.
Celtic Park has already played host to last month’s Scottish League Cup final, and will do so again next month as Dundee United take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup final.
And the City of Glasgow Cup final is yet another showpiece occasion at Celtic Park during 2014, with the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games of course taking place in July.
The City of Glasgow competition is sponsored by City Refrigeration Holdings Ltd, who have shown tremendous support for this competition over a number of years and for youth football in the city overall.
The showpiece City of Glasgow Cup final will see Celtic’s Under-17s take on Rangers for the famous old trophy.
Celtic Under 17s have enjoyed an impressive season up to now as they´ve competed in, and won, the SPFL Under-19 league. They are also currently taking part in the Under-19 League Cup.
We are selling tickets exclusively to our Season Tickets holders for the final – priced at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions – available ONLINE, on 0871 226 1888* or at the Ticket Office at Celtic Park.
Celtic 2014 will celebrate with you the role that our famous club will play in a special year for Scotland and in other high-profile events taking place around the world.
Celtic 2014 will also keep you up-to-date with the latest news relating to the exciting development of Celtic Park and other key events for every Celtic supporter´s diary.
Celtic 2014. A Club Like No Other. A Year Like No Other.
Click HERE for Celtic 2014 updates.
What numbskull would put this out.Surely they should be called RIFC.
Maggie MacGiolla
how come you’re up ?
Margaret McGill
Are you kidding me on? I was 12. Hardly able to make a reasoned judgement on footballers and their loyalties.
I was heart broken when the breaking news showed him in a Rangers tie with a smirking Sounness after he had pledged to sign for his ‘boyhood heroes’
I stood at Love Street a few months earlier at the the last game of the season singing Mo Mo super Mo with my father with him assuring me that we would have a much better chance in the league the following season against the big spenders across the city. I watched us win the cup at Hampden and believed the tide was turning. We had a decent side and a top striker would improve us massively. He then turned his back on his club and the people who support the club and signed for their greatest rivals after promising to play for Celtic again.
I will never ever forgive him for that. Never!
Footballers from other countries may be mercenaries but anyone who claims to support Celtic would never do that. Foreigners who have came to Paradise and got what Celtic is about wouldn’t do that.
I hope this time it explains it a bit clearer.
LB
The showpiece City of Glasgow Cup final will see Celtic’s Under-17s take on Rangers for the famous old trophy.
=========
So easy just to insert the definite article ( the / The) and fudge it but a choice was made.
Who are we playing in the final Celtic?
Bubba Watson may be disqualified in future, for being called Bubba
I might buy a ticket but I most certainly will not be attending anything that involves the deid team, especially when they are visiting our home.
livibhoy – god bless wee oscar
Judas was a scumbag extraordinaire but he went to the highest bidder
No different in my mind to hooper or wanyama
It’s all about money
It’s why we have Chelsea Real Madrid Chity and Sevco
Money.
Come to think of it
Apart from retrospective buck making nostalgia did Celtic treat any of the Loyal Lisbon lions with respect?
No?
Ok maybe John Clark the kit man
They even screwed Jock Stein
Spare me the violins
I’m sorry
jamesgang
16:25 on 15 April, 2014
Buster Brady
LOVE IT!!!
.
So are We going to Boycott Kids that are Under 16 and could Probably be Catholic Celtic supporters..
This place is getting more and more like Follow Follow because of Instilled Hatred..
Summa
Ps..As Paul says..Don’t Hate Rangers..Buy a Season Ticket..
Touch the Screen..
Summa
Margaret McGill
You seriously think Wanyama and Hooper are the same as Judas?
I think we better leave it there. Agree to disagree.
Ta-ta
LB
Sammi, don’t go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=728c7L_WjxQ
livibhoy – god bless wee oscar
If Norwich or Southampton would have paid higher wages for judas he’d be a footnote
.
Apart from retrospective buck making nostalgia did Celtic treat any of the Loyal Lisbon lions with respect?
..
The Biggest Disrespect Celtic FC ever made to The Lisbon Lions (Aided and Abetted by 60,000 Fans) was to Give the King of King a Testimonial on the Eve on the Lisbon Anniversary..And Even postponed a LL Function..
Summa
youtube.com/watch?v=T2L_8sj6Wyc …
I haven’t seen this docu before.
Heart breaking.
Utterly heart breaking.
#JT96
https://twitter.com/Pmacgiollabhain
Sorry if already posted till later all