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.
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HT.
Just get driving ya muppett. 8)
HT
Back to Forrest …last year of contract
Last season’s Wilson is worth more than £2-50m ……first season Wilson …hmmmm
Homesick apparently …
BT
Where was Lenny quoted re Needing CL before further spending ??
Btw I’m with you on this …cash rich from last season …£10m profit in transfers this season ….and a whole rake of players off the wage bill
Fed up with PLC guff
Blantyre Tim,
We have added, buts let’s do a comparison on in vs out it reads like the below:-
Rogne Out – Virgil Van Dijk in (Injured so not sure)
Wilson expected to go out in Steven Mouyokolo
Wanyama Out in ???????
Hooper Out In Amido Balde
Paddy Out in Derk Boerrigter :>)
Yes we have added to the squad however as Lennon openly admits, we are not as strong as we were?
I am not for a minute saying there is a lack of ambition but infact attracting the correct calibre of player I believe to be the problem. However everyone knew our early season kick off so surely contingency plans should have been in place?
Anyway C’mon the boys tonight!!
Hail Hail
SPC
**Bhoys** Slap on the wrist…..
Good morning friends from a dry, still and pleasant EK.
Avoid defeat tonight and we have some sort of European football guaranteed until December. We will score. And they won’t score 3.
I have to confess to harbouring suspicions about the motivation of the Green Brigade. My suspicion is that they have an anti-board agenda and have set out to drive a wedge between the board and the support. I emphasise that this is just a suspicion, and not a rock solid belief on my part.
Why am I suspicious?
When there was controversy a year or so ago concerning various members of the Green Brigade being arrested in their homes, workplaces and even at airports after returning from holiday, there were allegations that Celtic FC was working in collusion with the police by supplying them with personal details upon request.
One guy claiming to be a member of the GB posted on Twitter at the time, stating that he had 2 mobile phones, one of which he used for no other purpose than to call the Celtic Ticket Office – not very credible – and that the police had contacted him on that phone, so it could only have come from Celtic FC.
About a week later another member of the GB posted on CQN with the same story, except this time he had an alternative address which was subject to a police visit and, yes you’ve guessed it, he had only ever used that address to correspond with the Celtic ticket office. Aye right!
That was when I began to smell a great big rat. I smelled it again on Sunday when I read of how the GB had apparently ignored the club’s clear warning as to the consequences of not changing their ways.
I may be wrong. I have been before, but I can still smell that rat.
Singapore Celt
You’ve forgotten about
Miku and Lassad who haven’t been replaced at all
From Craig Mather re Rangers Charity.
“Craig Mather, chief executive of The Rangers Football Club Ltd, said: “This match took place during an unprecedented time for Rangers Football Club and we are delighted that OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) concluded that the decision to assign proceeds to both the club and the charity foundation was done “in good faith and in the interests of the charity given the risk that otherwise the event may not have taken place, in which case the charity would have received no benefit at all.”
Interesting last line. As far as I am aware,the charity did indeed receive no benefit at all,as the pittance that was agreed on was never paid.
Disgusting people who have no shame-because they receive no punishment EVER!!!!!
PF
One of those press reports from through the night.
PFAYR,
Not really concerned about them two but yes you are of course correct :>)
SPC
PF AYR. 0703
Haha,good points!!!
Green would sell his daughters if there was brass in it for him.
He will do the dirty on the huns without a second thought,or a backward glance.
And as a parting shot,I think he will remind everyone of Sally’s part in parting them from their money this time last year.
Hope so…..
Elfsborgs most recent results;
2-1 away defeat to Stockholm (3rd in table)
1-0 defeat away to Celtic
1-1 draw away to Atvidaberg (7th in table)
2-2 draw at home to Halmstads BK (2nd bottom of table, with 2 wins all season)
1-0 defeat at home to Atvidaberg (7th in table)
No wins in 5, 3 losses and 2 draws.
The only team who can beat Celtic tonight are Celtic. Turn up and play well and we’ll be too good for this team.
PF
TnT post at just after 5 this morning
Had to laugh when Green said he would only sell his shares to someone who has Rangers best interests at heart.
Now where have we heard that one before?
Morning Celts, we’ll have to score against the Swedes to go through IMO, and I believe we will, Celtic to win by the odd goal, I’ll plump for 2-1.
Someone posted last night that the game will be on BBC player, will that be live or a delayed broadcast?
HH
Live vman.. bbc 2
6.45 ko
When Green said “worst Rangers team ever” Ally went ballistic, and as we all witnessed, called Chuckles “an embarrassment”
When Green reports, on camera last night, that it was Walter who actually said it and Green simply repeated it, what’s Ally’s response? “I don’t want to get involved”
TNT,
Chuckle Vision :>)
SPC
BT
Shuttit daftie! :-)
Hopefully on the road by 10am the weans are shattered and still asleep.
Pfayr
I’d be expecting more than £2.5m based on last season.
Just in to say….
Tom McLaughlin
07:17 on 7 August, 2013
____________________
I think that the boreds nose has been out of joint with the Green Brigade since the ‘poppy banner’ carry on.
I recall top Cop Campbell Corrigan demanded that the GB attend a meeting at a certain time and – the GB told him to go to f#ck – or words to that effect.
Only saying – and I hope yer keeping well Amigo.
Hail Hail
Jobo Baldie
07:17 on 7 August, 2013
____________________
Well said amigo – hope yer well
Hail Hail
….pfayr
07:19 on 7 August, 2013
Singapore Celt
You’ve forgotten about
Miku and Lassad who haven’t been replaced at all
—–
Did they need replacing? Hardly prolific contributors over their time at Celtic.
You don’t miss what you never had – I don’t think Celtic got anything from either that we’ll miss.
BLANTYRE TIM
Having already sold our main striker and our main midfielder,there is now much talk that we might sell Neil’s preferred CH pairing.
That’s the spine of the team gone. Can’t recall successful teams doing that in the past. Not in one transfer window.
Yet the suits will still tell you,as they look up from their abacuses,that we are skint.
Hmmm. Think I’ve got this kinda déjà-vu feeling. Again
Kelvin Wilson has a year left on his contract . £2.5m …. Thanks and goodbye to guy who never settled
Malc
Miku played when we beat Barca
Caltontongues.
It may not be illegal,but is it moral.
Christ,there a go again,sevco and morality,whit am a like eh.
Hail hail.
Big Sean.
BMCUWP
Deafening hymns of praise for McOist? Was Ibrox full of Timposters? Working up to 40,000 posts on FF is one thing but actually going to a game to ensure they keep their worst manager ever, that’s dedication.
Best striker gone – Gary Hooper
Best midfielder gone – Vic 67
Best CH gone – Vic 67
All the atmosphere gone – Green Brigade
Diddums !!!!
Why the hell did i not skin maself and by a SB ?
If yer daft enough – CSC
Good morning CQNers,
I found it more than a little strange the SFA replied to Mather’s public questioning of them but it gave them the opportunity to post this damning reply into the public domain –
“The non-payment was a deliberate act in furtherance of a decision of the chairman and director of Rangers FC not to make payment as a negotiating tactic in the resolution of ‘the Big Tax Case’.
“In the case of the non-payment of tax (which was possibly by the smallest margin the most serious breach) the massive extent of the failure, and the intentional and calculated manner in which it was carried out, aggravated the breach even further.”
Following the judgement of OSCR you’d think Mather and his club would show suitable contrition and now make good the shortfall to charity, but then again, this club don’t do contrition.
Having viewed the pictures of Charles Green at last night’s game I think Sevco can expect a large expenses claim from chuckles for the 2 goons who’ll have to accompany him for the foreseeable future.
Tonight we can’t afford to be as profligate was we were on Saturday (only 5 shots on target from 18 attempts).
God bless all.
SILVER CITY1888
Haha,that genuinely made lol.
Twists n Turns,
I agree. Know Advisabergs well and watched them on Sunday struggle to a draw against Gefle who are poor. That game was played on a plastic pitch too and what worries me is the bounce of the ball on these pitches.
If Elfsborg lump high balls and Effe does not deal with it properly it could be a problem.
Hopefully we can score early and kill the tie.
My prediction is a squeeky bum 1-1.
Lubo.
Cheers BT but the thing is…….. I just disconnected my sky box in favour of a new BT box on Monday night (planning eh). I could get Beeb 2 Scotland via the skybox but not sure if its possible via the BT box? I can however get all the Iplayer stuff via BT box.
I suppose I’ll have to re-instate the auld sky box thingy (technical term).
ps Hope your good BT
V
VMHAN
Use your SKY box for free-to-view channels such as BBC,ITV,etc.
On the mend V.
KTF.
Better log onto my work laptop..
KevJungle ye didny buy a season book for Celtic Park because you are James Traynors underpants.
Vmhan
I am a BT broadband customer. Does that mean I get this new BT sport thingy (to copy your technical term, hope you don’t mind) free? If so, what do I need to do? Phone them?
If big Wilson is unsettled then 2.5 is fine if he is on the last year of his contract.
Would prefer 3 million because I think he is worth it , solid centre half who can play the ball.
Incidentally I think wanyama’s replacement could be Efe, more comfortable with him further up the park, got to be worth an experiment at least.
Good luck to the tic , concentration required from the first second , no silly early goals given away.
Confident we have the beating of them.