I hear legendary Sevconian statement issuer, Jim “Rangers are dead” Traynor, is now firmly established in the Dave King camp. You may have found recent statements familiar, including last night’s, which focusses more on interrupting Celtic’s period of domination than building a well-run and sustainable football club.
Or it could be that Dave King is in Traynor’s camp, it’s hard to tell who is the monkey and who is the organ grinder when it comes to that lot and their long and dysfunctional relationships with PR masters.
My suspicions were raised when the Sunday Mail ran a complete non-story on their front page. Someone submitted a frivolous complaint to police – this is your news, Scotland. This was the kind of article which would be found in the same publication when Fergus McCann was in charge at Celtic; an unadulterated attack on the club. Now poor (not actually poor) Graham Wallace has to deal with them.
What price ‘loyalty’ after Traynor had his snout in the trough to a spectacular level too. We actually have a recipient of some of that enormous over-spend criticising the enormous over-spend. After his money was banked, of course. For the life of me I can never understand why the other lot put up with these types.
King’s eight point statement was an absolute hoot and completely inspired by Celtic’s position. There seems to be a pattern here: do wrong, then criticise others for doing as you did.
Point One:
King first addressed the liability for blame, and possible criminal investigations, which he believed should be heading towards the Rangers International board in the wake of comments made by chief executive, Graham Waddell, five months ago. He wrote:
….“It is beyond doubt that the CEO (and other board members) was aware last December that there was insufficient cash to last until the end of the season and the board failed to respond to my previous question in that regard. The CEO is now subject to a criminal complaint on this very issue but I believe that his comments were made with the full knowledge of the board. Certainly no one came out to contradict him. We should therefore expect any criminal investigation to extend to other board members.”
Dave King was a director of now-liquidated Rangers throughout the entire Craig Whyte era, when the club borrowed money from Ticketus to fund the payment of Lloyds debt, failed to pay social taxes and came crashing down. Whyte lied about the Ticketus deal but his non-execs kept their eyes, ears and mouths shut.
King was also a director of Rangers for over a decade, including the period of the David Murray-Campbell Ogilvie EBT shambles, which was proven to be illegal on five counts, the other counts are currently subject to an Upper Tier Tribunal.
Point 2:
“If cash was wasted as a result of mismanagement (presumably Charles Green etc.) then what steps are being taken to hold management accountable for this?”
As a non-executive director of failed Rangers FC PLC King was employed to ensure interests of stakeholders were being looked after. He failed singularly in this regard and has yet to be held to account.
Point Three:
“The board has conceded that it does not plan to effectively compete with Celtic in our first season back in the Premier League.”
This is sanity, not vanity. To suggest Newco throw so much money at the team that the instantly become competitive to Celtic is a sure-fire way of guaranteeing yet another insolvency event. These. People. Never. Learn.
Point Four:
“This is a great review for Celtic fans. It is stated that the board might only raise 20 million over the next 3 years. This paltry amount will guarantee that Celtic will be in a league of its own for the next few years- and possibly permanently thereafter. Celtic will continue to enjoy exclusive access to the Champions League windfalls and will go from financial strength to strength. The gap could become financially irreversible.”
Agree that Celtic will go from strength to strength and be remain a league of their own. Disagree that the review was great for Celtic fans. The review is little more than a laugh for Celtic fans, it changes nothing for us. I like the “permanently thereafter” line, though. It carries a bit more weight than “Generation of Domination”, which sounded ridiculous to some 9 years ago when it was first mooted but now sounds a tad understated.
Point Five:
“The board still does not have a clear plan for raising capital despite knowing for some months that a financial crisis was looming.”
Correct. On a related matter, Mr King has offered unspecified notions that he would encourage other people to buy tens of millions of pounds of shares, no clear plan has been identified, exactly what he accused Newco’s board of.
Point Six:
“It is interesting that the credit card companies agree with me that the season tickets should not be released to the club. However, it is genuinely shocking that this board has, for several months, withheld the knowledge that fans would not have access to credit card facilities when renewing season ticket purchases. The board preferred to blame “external parties” in an attempt to hide this serious non-disclosure. How can this board ask fans to ever trust them again?”
I think Mr King may have composed this comment ‘after a long lunch’. Credit card companies have not suggested season tickets should not be released to (sic.) the club, they simply don’t want anything to do with these transactions.
It is not shocking at all that the decision by credit card companies was not shared by fans for a number of months. Wallace would have spent much of this time looking for an alternative. It would have been inappropriate for a PLC to disclose sensitive financial negotiations to the general public months before that information becomes relevant.
Point Seven:
“The board continues the blame game and takes no responsibility for the current debacle. In truth, it is this board’s stubborn refusal to secure fresh equity that is the cause of the present fragile state of the club’s finances. The board clearly hoped to muddle along by using the season ticket advances from fans. This review should reinforce to fans that this board cannot serve as an appropriate custodian for their season ticket money.”
If fans want to know who to blame for the death of Rangers and the undignified mess Newco are in, they need look no further than the boards headed by Sir David Murray and Craig Whyte, both of which Dave King served on. Blaming Wallace instead is nonsense.
Point Eight:
“The board has admitted that Rangers is not presently a “going concern” and yet offers no plan on how this will be dealt with in the short term. Fans could once again lose their season ticket advances if given to the club at this time. It is unconscionable that this board has done nothing to bolster the finances since the last AGM.”
Fans of Oldco or Newco have never lost their season ticket advances. What is he thinking of? Does he know what club he’s talking about?
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Summa of Sammi….
15:41 on 29 April, 2014
your making a right dick of yourself.
You answer my questions and I will start answering yours
You know I dont spoon feed huns on this blog and you have been acting like one for a long time now
HH
.
Livi
I’m blinded by Sami’s technical ability. Too many folk are too quick to jump on his poor performances but when he’s on fire he burns BRIGHTER than VVD, Forster and I would argue Vic, Hopper ever did.
Sami is a page ahead of most of his team mates in terms of vision and technique. Commons comes close but is hampered by lack of natural fitness allied to idleness. Now Gtiffiths..?
Philbhoy- offer to pay with your Supercoisty Mastercard.
When the waiter inserts it into the ‘chipandpin’ device the entire financial system of the Western world will come crashin’ down, faster than you can say Lehmann Brothers.
Awe naw …
Seriously … Best ignore posters who you don’t agree with.
Summa
You can have the last word
Summa of Sammi R.I.P
HH
Googybhoy,
I’d say yer a bit wide of the mark.
Unless I’ve missed the meaning of the wee smiley.
CultsBhoy
Impossible to compare with America. Their TV deal is through the roof for their sports. Getting food to your chair is not happening here. It’s hard enough to get it at the kiosks. How cauld would your pie be if some kid is bringing it to your seat?
The only way things can improve is make the pricing cheaper. Paying £28-£30 for a premiership game is just not value for money. If we can generate revenues elsewhere we must make it cheaper for the fan paying into attend the match.
LB
Cultsbhoy
Thanks. Done
HH
.
You know I dont spoon feed huns on this blog and you have been acting like one for a long time now
8 Replies to a Hun Actor in 24 Mins..
So Humility and Maths..
Hmmmm
Summa
Ps..I Know i am a Dick l have Admitted it on here..And Never pretended to be a Intelectual..Oh Wait..
Pps..You missed a Comma on Don’t..
Cultsbhoy
Imo, all too often I feel the opposition can take the ball off Sammy much easier than his team mates.
Cheers for the memories Sammy but time to move on.
Sleekit…”the envy of any club in world football”. Finally, he’s becoming detached from reality..
CB,
agree 100% – when he’s on fire, Sammi is in a different league from every player in Scotland.
He’s wasted here. I would love him to stay.
Livi
I bought tickets for Noocastle v Arsenal as part of my football mad son’s Christmas this year.
Adult. £34 child. £17. Essentially same price as going to Celtic v Motherwell. The product was vastly different – so I agree re ticket pricing.
I still think more isle vending a start.. ‘Get yer hot doggggs !’
Wallace set to ask Super Sallary for a warchest.
CultsBhoy
I like Samaras. I really do. He has been a good servant but VVD does it in 90% of his games. Can you say the same for Samaras? I can’t. Sometimes he just doesn’t make it happen. Invaluable in Europe but in the league against lesser opposition he just doesn’t appear to get motivated. It’s a real mystery. He appears to be a big game player. He revels in the big matches he is at times unplayable. The mystery is how can he not take that form into a game against a team at the bottom of the league and blast a hat trick in? he has done it in the past he can do it but doesn’t always happen for him. At times Samaras appears to be a luxury player. There are some games you can tell from the first kick of the ball he won’t be in the mood today. He never hides though and always wants the ball but I have no idea why he sometmes can;t do it against a packed defence.
Fraser Forster is a cracking player. Probably the best keeper I have ever seen in Scotland. Only 36 so can only comment on the last 30 years or so but he is an incredible talent. He can go right to the top of the game.
I would still keep Samaras if the terms are right. I think Leigh Griffiths is clever enough to form a very good partnership. I think he wants a change though. Time will tell.
LB
CultsBhoy
Fair play to you for taking your boy to a different match elsewhere for the experience but I would give Newcastle not another penny of my cash. Was at Beardsley and Shearer testimonials and wouldn;t go back. Terrible club. Terrible fans and the owner and manager are not football people.
LB
Them commas are more divisive than the Green Brigade.
Sorry 007 but you totally lost me tonight with your posts and their content.
I have no idea of where you are coming from or your point/points.
But tomorrow is tomorrow open season on the semi-colon eh! ☺
The biggest problem for Newcastle is Alan Pardew trying to park the Smart Car.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
15:22 on 29 April, 2014
‘Unfair on Big Fraser’
###
Well he’s the other top class player we have, but opposition sides can’t really do much about keepers, so to that extent they’re not a worry to them. They don’t disrupt their play or pull them out of shape. They’re just there to be beaten.
.
Ironic that l am Answering to a Poster Who is Not Quoting my Name but keeps saying l am Quoting them Wrong..
Kitalba..All l am trying to do is Tell Good Celtic supporters that IMHO they are Making a Massive Mistake to make their Love for Celtic FC Conditional..
Summa
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
15:58 on 29 April, 2014
I’d agree with that.
Wouldn’t hurry back there.
Plenty of better grounds to go to in England.
Tumbleweed
He’s not lying he’s a servant of the crown…
“Will you read this statement that you took from him on the 3rd of November, 1974?
A statement, my Lord, that vindicates all of these people, all of these innocent people. Someone ordered that these people be used as scapegoats by a nation that was begging for blood. In return for the innocent blood spilled on the streets of London.”
[ turning to Mr Dixon very angrily]
“And by God you got your blood Mr Dixon! You got the blood of Giuseppe Conlon, you got the life blood of Carol Richardson, and you’ve got 15 years of blood, sweat, and pain for my client and his only crime was being Irish, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
” And one of your colleagues, My Lord, who sat where you’re sitting now, said and I quote, – It was a pity that you were not charged with treason to the crown. A charge that carries a penalty of death by hanging. A sentence I would have had no trouble in passing in this case.”
” My Lord, this brings the entire English legal system into disrepute. My Lord, this alibi for Gerry Conlon was taken by Mr. Dixon one month after Gerry Conlon was arrested.
This note was attached to it when I found it in police files.”
[ Holds up note]
It reads, “not to be shown to the defense.”
[ Turning back to Mr. Dixon]
“I have one question for you Mr. Dixon.”
“Why was the alibi for Gerry Conlon, who was charged with the murder of five innocent people, kept from the defense?”
007:
My love for Celtic is unequivocal and unconditional, my respect for the corrupt game in Scotland is zero.
I could pose you lots of questions that I just know would make you see my side of the issue but out of respect for you I publicly won’t. However, you have my e-mail address, drop me a mail with a number and I will gladly call you and tell you why I made my decision.
Hmm…. I wonder?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxIEZ-gnFeE
Sammy. Love him. He gives us something different in attack and also adds to the way we defend corners.
And here is the but…
When he plays, it affects the way Izzy plays.
Too often the positive that Sammy brings is outweighed by the negative effect overall.
On an unrelated matter, the line up on Sunday had 5 outfield players who were naturally left footed. (Izzy, Charlie, Kris, Steffen and Leigh).
Is this a world record?
It’s unlikely even sevco at their most desperate would claim a new world record for left footers
CultsBhoy
Impossible to compare with America. Their TV deal is through the roof for their sports. Getting food to your chair is not happening here. It’s hard enough to get it at the kiosks. How cauld would your pie be if some kid is bringing it to your seat?
The only way things can improve is make the pricing cheaper. Paying £28-£30 for a premiership game is just not value for money. If we can generate revenues elsewhere we must make it cheaper for the fan paying into attend the match.
LB
Not that its the most pressing issue but the food services at CP are terrible. The reference to America is interesting, what does PL think when he enters an American stadium and sees how they do food services? That it cannot be replicated because of the lack of TV money?
I don’t think so, its deeper than that. IMHO, there is a cultural issue re: service and quality in general in Scotland where one pays dearly for good food and service.
You simply couldn’t get away with the poor food quality at CP in any arena in America– nothing to do with TV money.
Dave King CSC
Evening Times…………..Celtic’s shocking Flares
whinhallkev
To be honest I just don’t buy it.
Occassionally buy a hot drink in the winter but wouldn’t buy anything else. It’s complete dross and most other grounds up here are the same.
I don’t think we have a culture like the Americans where we need to have food at a sporting event. Most American sporting events last hours. That means that they must supply a decent standard of food.
If you compare the food standard and pricing to other events in Britain like concerts, cinemas, etc it is pretty much standard.
I’m not sure how we get it much better to be honest without outsourcing to a big player like McDonalds. I think what is much worse is the wastage in the corporate lounges. How many of the pies and other foods on offer go in the bin? I believe it is more than 50% of it!
LB
macanbheatha Oscar Abú
Classic Comedy. Negativity (moaning) brings out a lot of positivity onto the blog although sometimes you think “get a life.”
WK67
Paul
I think your underestimating King’s reasoning, or, to be exact, the reason for that reasoning.
He knows his market. And is playing to it. Or, more importantly, playing to that market’s deepest fear.
A successful Celtic… A potentially uncatchable Celtic.
That biggest and baddest of Bogey Men.
It’s not the reality of that and living with it.
It’s the fear of it. A fear that usurps their perceived world view. Only money can correct it. To hang with a good manager, a competent scouting structure, an unforced reliance on youth, a plan… Money will retire the balance.
Now what’s astonishing is – these are the great and the good, the Captains of Industry, the shakers and the makers. The policy deciders – the cognoscenti, the purveyors of rational rationale. From the top of the SFA all the way to Edmiston Drive…
Everything else has been an easily ignored bad dream – just get back in the Premier League and win the trophy and get in Europe and put that green and white mob firmly in their place…
What’s that description of madness?
Their record is stuck on loop.
U
There’s very few grounds in England that I’d be happy to return to.
Loftus Rd has probably been the only one I’ve felt welcomed and possibly Brian Robson’s testimonial at Old Trafford.
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
I do my best but you only get about 10 minutes.
WK67
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
I was at Norwich when we first visited their ground for the physio’s testimonial and I must say it was one of my best trips down there. The pies were also superb!
LB
From previous thread,
Re. my lost Passport, went to Milton St. this morning, but as I didn’t have an appointment, I was very gently informed that I would not be able to proceed with my application. Had to phone Belfast, whilst in Glasgow office to get appointment in Glasgow!
Cutting to the chase, got appointment tomorrow, but wont get Passport for at least a week. The 1-day service only covers renewals, not lost/stolen/damaged.
Thanks for all your replies guys, but apparently it would in fact be easier to get a UK Passport in Portugal than in the UK. (as someone, Billy Bhoy 05? mentioned earlier).
HH
Rock Tree Bhoy
15:51 on
29 April, 2014
Sleekit…”the envy of any club in world football”. Finally, he’s becoming detached from reality..
its crumbling,as an identity they are episodic.as a club they have had a full mental,social and economic breakdown before staggering over histories cliff .no insight into their own self.totally delusional.
I now think when Ally rants like so he’s went oot without his med!!
:-))
HH
Livibhoy
Haven’t been there though I heard great reports about Celtic’s visit their last season.
No mention of pies however :-)