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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HH
great article by James Forrest ,on the demise of oldco & Sevco..
On fields of green..
Most enjoyable sir..
hotshot
18:31 on
15 April, 2014
Just heard Stoke’s comments.
Celtic should tell their staff to shut it, no comment, don’t answer or refuse to accept any questions about R. Why give them any oxygen and encouragment
============
Does that include NL and PL as well. Perhaps DD should lead by example.
Stokes joins a line of players management and board members who want them back, the fans and their point of view doesn’t seem to count, the disconnect continues.
Buster Brady interview on how much we are missing the Zombies due shortly on shortbread TV
hotshot
18:31 on
15 April, 2014
Just heard Stoke’s comments.
Celtic should tell their staff to shut it, no comment, don’t answer or refuse to accept any questions about R. Why give them any oxygen and encouragment
____________________________
Haven’t you realized that the people that want the return of thems more than anyone is those within the corridors of Celtic park. It pains me to say that but its true.
A wee peek into the black heart of the rotting corpse…..
paisleyprod paisleyprod is online now
Believer in King
Join Date: 28-07-2006
Location: New York, Ibiza, Feegie park
Posts: 56,311
Default Never thought I’d have felt like this
The feeling of resentment towards Rangers just now that I have is not a feeling I want to have. It is horrible and I reckon there are many reasons for it.
Obviously the board aren’t fit for purpose, an embarrassment and an insult to all of us. The lies, the drawn out reviews, the ready to listen propaganda nonsense, it is never ending. The fact Laxey have a guy in there is also a boot in the stones.
Then prior to that lot we had had Green who spoke a good game at times (I instantly took a dislike to him but foolishly allowed myself to be taken in by his bravado whilst he delivered nothing and feel a bit of a clown for being taken in) and his pals Ahmad and Stockbridge in particular make me want to boak.
The thing that saddens me as much though is the footballing side of things as that is what we follow for, the fitba. We have no plan for the future other than to spend. We missed the chance to make something good out our situation and could have saved cash rather than expensive and average ex SPL players and developed our own but oh no. On top of that, what we have endured for two seasons has been tripe. Losses to several small clubs on a fraction of our wages certainly don’t lighten the mood nor does Ally’s statements or sing songs let alone tactics and team selections.
For various reasons some mates have stopped going to some of the games and for the first time I can remember I really can’t be bothered going and watching a team struggling to defend, struggling to keep the ball, unable to make easy passes and resorting to a long ball to an unfit and immobile striker. Then we look at the directors box and cringe! I’m so scunnered that I won’t be going tonight and have given my ticket to my nephew’s pal so at least our tickets from this household will all be getting used.
I hope this feeling is just a passing fad and my enthusiasm returns. My mood has no doubt been made darker by cancelling my season ticket for next season as I can’t justify bankrolling people who do not give a toss about us, the fans.
If I can do anything to help Rangers become a club to be proud of again I will and hope my season ticket cancellation lets Mr Ready to Listen know how I feel. I just hope Mr King and co prevail in the end and put a stop to what seems like a never ending nightmare.
Anyone feel the same?
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Torque87 Torque87 is offline
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Join Date: 23-05-2011
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Default Re: Never thought I’d have felt like this
I know where you’re coming from OP. Trying to motivate myself for heading to Ibrox tonight has been extremely difficult, never thought I’d say I can’t be arsed, but that’s how I feel about tonight and the remaining games. I just worry about the summer we’re about to endure, but come the start of the season I’ll be buzzing again, it’s a vicious circle (minus a season ticket as it stands right now of course)
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coplandfront156 coplandfront156 is offline
They say i’m a criminal supporter ……
Join Date: 16-10-2007
Location: Loyalist East End
Personally I believe it is a directive given by the board to staff and players – regurgitate the same old lines ” we miss the competition” or “it will be good for Scottish football when Sevco are able to challenge us ” Does anyone really believe Anto wants ‘the Zombies’ back ???
Backed a greyhound on-line about three hours ago,dog won @ 3/1.
They still haven’t settled the bet and paid me out.
A lousy £80.
Frank Ryan
I listened to what he said and yes i do
Saddened by Anthony’s comment.
Can some of the linguists on here tell me just when “merde” became masculine? Is it just something reserved for you know who? Or am I wrong?
celtic plc is just as corrupt as sfa, look what was done and nothing, also other clubs are just as corrupt Scottish football is sick and the the member clubs are sick whether enough fans let them know is anybodys guess, to continue supporting is worse than mo Johnston betrayal it means you support cheating officially.
i posted this last night and today
its shows we are so much better off without rangers
everyone on the blog should look at this and see what we have avoided for the last 2 years
the world is better place without rangers
not sure if these huns fans drunk or intellectually challenged or both
but they are vile people and the air of menace is quite clear to be felt
nasty.arrogant, bigoted, racist and stupid
look at these geniuses
rangers fans views on scottish independence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmGjiokfQ2
I second dessybhoy regarding Buster Brady
Lennybhoy…Supporting the DAM 5, Neil Lennon, Wee Oscar Knox, and CFC until I die
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Forgive my ignorance but what did Alfie Conn do?
Stokes comments on how we need the Scum. Hunbelievable. He should cease and desist.
The opinions of the great Celtic Family obviously don’t count for very much!
Scottish football is worse off without Rangers … just like banking is worse off without Nick Leeson and medicine is worse off without Harold Shipman.
scullybhoy
18:52 on 15 April, 2014
Played for us and oldco
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I have only read snippets of the interview with Anto on the BBC site. Is there a full online version?
scullybhoy
18:52 on 15 April, 2014
Point I was trying to make was regardless who played for who and in what order none before or since Judas declared they were joining or rejoining one side but then changed their mind.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Buster ‘Stokesie’ Brady should stick to learning the offside rule. And someone should tell him what it was like living in the dark age of the tax free 9 in a row.
HH jamesgang
offside not in his dictionary
Re stokesys comments why don’t we let him and everyone else at Celtic Park know that we do not want them -then,now and forever-as the teams enter Fir Park with a resounding chorus or two -DUFC fans showed us how to do it last week now it’s our turn in the lunchtime game -90 minutes of anti sevco stuff should get the message across
I remember Alfie Conn joining Celtic and I was really pleased. He was cool dud and had done OK at Spurs. I think he played well against R”””””s in a Scottish Cup Final and gave everything, even though they tried to rough him up (77???). Maybe I am making this all up – memory is going but I have fond memories of Alfie – oh well.
I hope that was not a Freudian slip as I meant to say dude!!!!!!!!!! Sorry Alfie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gerrybhoy
19:02 on 15 April, 2014
offside not in his dictionary
Dictionary not in his library? 1990s hunnery pokery not in his memory vault.
My wee Bhoy’s just turned 9. The last couple of years have been a far better place in which to introduce him to fitba.
HH jamesgang
Fortunately, the upcoming Glasgow Cup Final will give Celtic fans an early opportunity to demonstrate our position re Sevco, who they are, what they are.
Refusal to attend this game will send a message to the club.
If this game gas to be played, it could go to Lennoxtown or their place.
Nothing his surer but that the authorities will trumpet the attendance figure as a sign that the fans want this fixture.
So, whatya gonna do about it boys?
Monaghan1900 17:11
Running out of FFin’ anti-psychotic medication:
“What’s Advocaat up to these days? Imagine DA coming back in a ‘Head Coach’
—————————————————————————
Thus appointing one “Dick Head Coach” to replace another…..
FFS calm down, are we going to get the pitch forks out for Lenny as well as Anto – Seems the players are only following his example
“The to-ing and fro-ing with Rangers is always exciting. You also miss the competitiveness and, of course, you miss the games, because it’s one of the greatest derbies in the world. There is always drama and energy in those games, and they will happen again in another couple of seasons and the excitement will start building again“
“When Rangers come back it will boost their coffers but it will also boost ours.”
ThomTheTim
So, whatya gonna do about it boys?
My dilemma is this. I wouldn’t ever want to let Bhoys play against FOD without backing them.
By not stating clearly ‘the rangers’ or ‘new rangers’ the board are complicit in the big lie.
And that’s from me. A naturally inclined happy clapper at that…,
HH jamesgang
scullybhoy
19:05 on 15 April, 2014
Totally agree with you and yes, I recall him playing against oldco and playing well. He and Wullie Henderson had The Barnyard Pub, from where we once left, would be in pulling pints occasionally.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
My friends in Celtic,
Another poignant article by Paul 67, and magnificent posts by LiviBhoy and jamesgang. I salute you all.
Never in the field of cyber blogging have the posts of so few, speak for so many.
It is articles and posts such as today that make me proud and privileged to be part of and participate in CQN in a very, very small way.
In CQN we have a vehicle to promote our club, ethos and values, but we also have an opportunity to speak to the good people of Merseyside. ( I know many who lurk here )
I do not mean to be presumptuous but I hope and trust that our message from CQN of fairness, affinity and solidarity speaks for all.
This is the Celtic I love, this is the Celtic that others can only aspire to.
HH,and justice for the 96, We are Celtic, This is Celtic, Always in Celtic.
greenpinata
Thank you.
HH jamesgang
maybe shug keevins was right after all seems some fans of old firm do miss them and are quite willing to lie in order to facilitate this with a new zombie club as for more money corruption is very much alive.
THEY are fighting like Friar Tuck amongst THEMSELVES and I can’t get enough of it.
However, can someone who knows about these things answer the following.
Should THEY take Bomber’s advice and put season ticket money into the trust of a character whom a judge badmouthed in court, in order to force the present owners to turn over security of Ibrox and Murray Park to them, does the above trust become liable for liabilities such as safety and maintainance of Ibrox and Murray Park? Sorry for the seemingly endless sentence.
Bit edited out of Anto interview: “…but then I read Paul67’s blog today and found out they’ll never be ‘back’.”
Is Stokes expressing his own views or toeing the DD PL party line?
Jamesgang,
The reality is that everyone who contributes financially to Scottish football is complicit and condones the situation that the game finds itself in.
When the 5 Way Agreement was trying to be forced through, it was the fans of other clubs, fans who love their clubs as much as we do, who pressured their clubs to block the moves.
Not Celtic fans.
There was an opportunity to show the SFA our contempt at last year’s Cup Final.
Opportunity lost as we clamoured for tickets.
I don ‘t buy the argument of sending our boys out without a support behind them.
The issue is bigger than that.
By attending a match involving them, you legitimise them; no matter how it is dressed up.
At the beginning of this fiasco, ?I used to sign off my posts thus,
BC or DC.
Which meant that the only non complicit course of action for the club was either shut the door, like Belfast Celtic or join another League, like Derry City.
Anything else is being complicit, even though reluctantly.
As far as the support is concerned, we are being forced to be complicit, therefore the opportunity to express our feelings is with our feet and the GCF is an ideal opportunity to so do.
thomthethim for oscar ok
You make your point well and forcefully mhate.
Respect
HH jamesgang