Despite Walter Smith urging “Rangers fans to get fully behind the resolutions which last week were presented to the Board and shareholders”, which include sacking chief executive, Craig Mather, he added, “Craig Mather, as I have said before is doing a good job. It is unfortunate that this has happened but when change does come I hope he’ll be allowed to continue the job he has started”.
Smith is clearly close to, but not in tandem with, those who requested an Emergency General Meeting.
As well as support for the chief exec, on the manager, Smith says, “As for Alistair McCoist, it is important that we all appreciate that no other Rangers manager has had to work with poorer or more trying circumstances. It is my fervent hope that when the dust settles and Rangers have a clearer path and future he is given the chance to manage under conditions similar to those which were afforded his predecessors.”
Here we get to the crux of the problem. Rangers International face enormous financial challenges. With a half decent football manager, they would be able to win promotion from the third tier of Scottish football with a football budget of around £1m, or several times that of their nearest rivals. If, as the Herald suggested this week, there is not enough money to finish the season, the most immediate responsibility of the directors is to cut costs accordingly.
Cutting costs is not the reason anyone gets into football, and it is certainly not what Walter Smith knew in his time at the Rangers group of clubs, but at times it is absolutely necessary. The non-executive directors of Rangers International would serve their fans interests best by telling this unpalatable truth.
Failure to do this will pale in comparison to some other potential consequences. In setting his stall behind McCoist, Mather’s team building exercise and the EGM protagonists, Smith has almost ensured collapse if those demanding change cannot command the support of 51% of shareholders. To succeed, Paul Murray will need to demonstrate the leadership and deal management skills which were lacking a year ago.
Meanwhile, John Brown’s warning about Green turning Ibrox to dust hangs over the place, a bit like dust.
There is one overarching concern, however. Green is critical to fending off any impending action by Craig Whyte. His evidence will be necessary to explain how Sevco Scotland Ltd assumed the irrevocable entitlement of Sevco 5088 Ltd. Even with Green on-side, this looks like a challenge, but if the main protagonists in this action are separated from those who will have to defend any action, you suspect Whyte will be enormously encouraged.
When Whyte believed he was double-crossed he went nuclear. All Green would need to do is corroborate a sliver of Whyte’s evidence to bring Whyte’s legal challenge into sharp focus. For this reason, Green has to be part of the picture going forward. Demonising him is tempting, and may be deserved, but it’s self-defeating – and these people know all about self-defeating.
Section 111
Two weeks ago I said “place your bets” on what would happen after Celtic issued their “final warning” over a number ongoing issues in section 111. No one was in control of the situation, not Celtic, and not members the Green Brigade, who I believe had nothing to do with several of the issues.
Since then I’ve watched the debate. Some, like Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, attempted to inform on the debate, interviewing handicapped supporters and independent safety experts. Anticipating this day would come, I thought about interviewing the Council, but decided against, not wanting to draw them into making a public stance they would be unable to back down from.
Yesterday felt as inevitable as what’s going to happen next in Govan. Can the situation be rescued? Of course. Will it? Place your bets, people…
I’m not a regular newspaper buyer but the front page of one of today’s is a keeper. Celtic have a lateral movement issue, which dominates the front page, when the utter implosion at Ibrox is relegated to a side column. It’s a testament to our age. We will survive. I can’t say that with any certainty about the other lot.
[calameo code=0003901713852289beccb lang=en page=76 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,077 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- ...
- 29
- »
chris1888
Hope you’re good amigo. Said to your dad that we need to meet up.
How is family life? Late nights an no much sleep:o)
Jinks
Your a hard act to follow
Maggots 1 Magpies 0
an indefeasible extant……….braw!
EDB,
Doing fine thanks, hope you are also keeping well. Def need to get a meet-up arranged, and a small alcoholic beverage will be a must.
Family life also good, and you’re spot on with the late nights comment, very late….nightshift until 6am :)
Natknow, BT and SP
Brilliant! LOL!
The Bryson thingy……
I am thinking of getting a Yorkshire Terrier, what should I call him……..???
Charles,Chuckles, or SPIV……….???????
The Boy Jinky
19:58 on 6 August, 2013
Oglach
Were the daleks not exterminated last year
===
I have it on reliable info that oul Charlie Davros claims that they weren’t and that he has bought their history and reanimated them. They are now know as Daleks 2012 and have plans to conquer the know universe within 3 years.
Chris
2 different issues. The ” not guilty” decision was about ” not gaining a competitive advantage”. The unwashed saw that single sentence as a not guilty of cheating verdict. Throughout Nimmo’s report it refers to failing to disclose side letters and several other misdemeanours , non standard payments to players etc, i.e cheating.
chris
Good to hear back from you and that things are good.
Take care and we will meet up for sure.
Blantyre Tim.
I recommend your friend visits Glenalbyn. Good wee place. Should be good amount of Tims. Some are of the moaning variety but they love the club.
BT
As long as im not a flop :(
John.
Cheers,my mate is very enthusiastic to say the least…0)
Oglach
The zombies could use them to replace broxi bear… in fact…super ally might have found his niche
Blantyre you are welcome. I might go there myself. Depends on work.
Is the game on TV terrestrial or otherwise tomorrow. Or is it only available on Celtic TV again?
theweegreenman
20:02 on
6 August, 2013
The Bryson thingy……
Where there’s an untapped seam of comedy you can be sure The Sevco will do something that allow it to be tapped…
Fergus was the mhan to tap in!
oglach bbc 2 mate
KTF
HH
BBC2 I think.
oglach
20:12 on
6 August, 2013
Is the game on TV terrestrial or otherwise tomorrow. Or is it only available on Celtic TV again?
Sure I saw an advert on BBC Scotland for it last night mate
Re the game on TV — OK Bhoys thanks for the heads up.
sorry – game only available in my local – unavailable at home – hope the wife believes me
oglach
Think also that it’s an 18:45 k.o.
On the amount of tax Rangers deprived the Exchquer of WITH the help of the SFA.
1. Discount Option Scheme ebt. ( The wee tax bill £2.8m demanded with further penalties.
2. VAT and NI £15m not paid ( The SFA should have been montioring Rangers finances after SOs called in Aug 2011) instead provided UEFA with reasons NOT to do so in July 2011 helping to cover up true position
3. Potential if UTT rule for HMRC. £24m plus penalties.
Without penalties that comes to £41.8m of UK taxpayers direct tax not to mention taxpayer bailing out HBOS.
The SFA presided, and I mean presided , over this and still do and yet the Exchequer have not called them to account.
Perhaps it will have to wait on the UTT decision to reach critical mass but the SFA’s role in aiding and abetting tax avoidance will come out if I’ve to write to the Select Committe myself ( or get GG to do it)
What’s 4 foot long and keeps a fa**y warm
A sevco scarf
HH
How will Pardew deal with being beaten by a third tier nonentity here in Scotland?
blantyretim
Was catching up on the blog when i saw your post re the Lord Mayor
The present LM is not my nephew (his tenure finished a year ago ) but your concern is well appreciated.
Anyhow have look at this
http://www.u.tv/News/Police-shield-SF-mayor-from-protestors/181c132c-2a09-488f-9269-89019b54d405
Auldheid
Will Spivco FC have avoided tax or been allowed tax dispensation during the AC Milan farce ?
Auldheid
Dont wait, in case the independence vote is yes, otherwise like their misdemeanours when in the the SPL, which has since folded and WNS judgement has gone unchallenged it will be whitewashed.
Macanbheatha
Shocking treatment and typical of them.
Glad he is OK ..
Auldhied
You are of right on the ball again
Did CW not let slip that he told the SFA/SPL that ragers 1872 had run out of money in Oct 2011.
With no credit line and dwindling income I wonder were the SFA/SPL thought the maney would come from .
CF could not have a tape of that meeting ,,,,could she ?
HH
Samaras and 1 0 @ 28/1 and Samaras and 2 0 @ 40/1.
Watcha say?
twists n turns
20:28 on 6 August, 2013
Samaras and 1 0 @ 28/1 and Samaras and 2 0 @ 40/1.
Watcha say?
Either us a dream come true
macanbheatha
Nice too see those lovely people embracing democracy!
Obviously a few Deidco strips on show, you’d think they would have enough to protest about!!
can i have raspberry on that champions league ice cream
Yeah. Don’t like betting us for clean sheets but Lennys biggest attribute for me has been setting up away from home in Europe. He can hopefully keep it tight tomorrow and hit them with an away goal in the first 20 mins to knock the stuffing out them.
….n big sammy is ma hero…..he’ll do the biz tomorrow.
blantyretim
19:07 on
6 August, 2013
Fergus as its not Jim McColl we(glendaly and I) decided it would be George Barron and the new consortium would be the Barron knights.
They had a single under new management in 1966..
I wondered if anybody else on the blog would be auld enough to remember them!