When directors and creditors are one and the same

Thanks to everyone who contributed questions for the Forum last night.  It was an open, frank and productive meeting.  Draft minutes will be distributed to attendees to be checked for accuracy before being formalised, after which the meeting’s outcomes will be made public through various outlets.

One thing which is evident, and goes largely unacknowledged, is the significant contribution made by Auldheid in building the channels needed for constructive dialogue between the club and supporters.  Well done, Pat.

I see Neil Lennon in the news being “flattered” after Norwich City chief exec, and former Celtic commercial director, David McNally, told the media he believed it only prudent he keeps an eye open for a new manager, should Chris Hughton ‘leave’.  Neil answered well, refused to comment on a job which is already filled, while setting a standard answer, suitable whether he was interested or not.  There is no point firmly denying interest in a job as a subsequent refusal to do so for a different position would leave too much information on the table.

McNally is right, it is only prudent you keep an eye on these things, but can you imagine how Hughton feels when reading this stuff, or what the resulting speculation will do to the club’s relegation chances?  There is now far too much information on the table now for Hughton to be effective.

A football manager needs authority and respect, Houghton has been denied both.  Norwich should do the decent thing and pay the man his contract before they sleepwalk into the lower leagues.

It’s funny how different people read the same thing in different ways.  An announcement that a club is in discussions with a couple of existing shareholders to borrow money to provide working capital is self-explanatory in most respects.

The announcement by Newco Rangers this morning establishes that the club needs a fresh injection of money to pay its bills.  We all knew this, but the sharp-eyed will also have noted that this loan will create the club’s two major creditors.  No bank will lend to Newco, their creditors will be limited to trade suppliers, HMRC and other football clubs, all pretty low values.  This £1.5m loan is likely to give the lenders sufficient control to vote through anything they desire, should administration occur.  The controlling directors and creditors will be one and the same.

Newco Rangers has been rag-dolled since its inception by various pressure groups within the broader family who seem determined to stamp on whatever green shoots of recovery exist.  What it really needs is the kind of strong leadership this directors-creditors group can provide, leaders who will do the right thing, take the necessary medicine and stand firm against the quislings.  While others tried to get the club for free, they paid their money, continue to do so, and deserve the chance to run their club as they see fit.  For what it’s worth I think the club and its current controllers are a perfect fit.  I hope they use their largest creditor status to protect their interests.

Congratulations to STV’s Peter Smith (aged 12 ½), who scooped the Royal Television Society’s Young Talent of the Year award, achieved partly because he was prepared and able to ask hard questions, when many of his elder peers would rather eat their own toe nails.  He’s still not uncovered that Dallas Cowboys email, so more work still to be done.

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