Vladimir Romanov has grown bored of his Hearts experiment as an investment of tens of millions of pounds failed to change the side from mid-table strugglers into a team capable of something Motherwell seem able to do on significantly less.
Romanov wanted to transform Hearts into the biggest club in Scotland but failed to address the structural limitations of the club. While Hearts may be the biggest team in Edinburgh, Edinburgh is a net exporter of football fans, Tynecastle is squeezed into a cramped corner of the city and provides very little opportunity to harvest corporate income, and, in case you haven’t noticed, there were two well-established competitors in a larger, net-import city with ample corporate income opportunities.
Various Hearts boards have looked to relocate the club or extend facilities at Tynecastle without much headway being made. A bid of £22m was received from a house builder for the stadium some years ago but without a viable alternative the deal stalled.
A viable alternative could come onto the market soon.
If Rangers go out of business Romanov is in a unique position to take advantage. Craig Whyte holds a floating charge on Ibrox and Murray Park but any bid in excess of his liability, which would be considerably less than the value of the properties, which have a book value of £139m, would secure both pieces of real estate.
Hearts could sell Tynecastle and Hearts training ground, raising enough funds to considerably offset what they would need to pay to secure Ibrox, if not provide a surplus, and establish foothold in the Glasgow market to complement their historical Edinburgh fan base. One club would have a pull on a huge proportion of Scotland’s two largest cities.
At a stroke Romanov would ensure his club were for all time, at the very least, the second largest team in Scotland, and, eventually, could push Celtic for top spot.
It would be a ballsy move, but if you want to create a super-club you need to think a little creatively.
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TTTT
I’ll take the 4 goal win, but hopefully no violence at all. If they fight amongst themselves it will turn into a full day of violence unfortunately.
I really believe if the game takes place we could embarrass them big time, 4or5 goals if we play well.
I’m not sure that sectarianism and bigotry are so completely embedded in Hearts as in Rangers.
Do they sing sectarian songs when they are playing Averdeen?
Derek Johnstone- Mrs Doubtfire
Mort
You are too quick for me …….. I Miss Daboat
Not posted for a while. Been too busy piling into the jelly and ice cream.
After yesterday’s shambles, I’m just off the phone to sky to cancel my ESPN subscription. I went to the ESPN web page and posted them a comment so they are clear as to why they’ve lost my custom….
“I cancelled my ESPN subscription today as a result of Craig Burley. I cannot believe you employ such a negative, bitter and objectionable individual. I would have thought your presenters should be at least slightly positive about the product you sell (Scottish Football).
I will return to your channel when he has gone”.
I would urge all Celtic fans to consider such a move if you feel, like me, that Burley is a total disgrace.
Hail Hail
We won the last game against Rangers so I don’t mind of that is the last game ever.
The phrase ‘football is more important than life or death’ was a memorable quip but I don’t believe it myself.
I would rather Rangers went out with a whimper rather than a bang.
iki
Miss Timed
great minds and all that…
Mort
Morning all,
Off out for some of what PAUL67 has been on!
Only kidding,bud. Nice wee bit of Sunday morning stirring…..
Paul 67,
As we look forward to the new dawn of political independence, would it not be better if the SRU , sold up at Murrayfield and then moved to the west?
This could be a great opportunity for Scottish Rugby to make serious inroads into the bulk of the Scottish populace. They also have the benefit of a sponsor , whom I sure could provide lots of advice on extending their reach into the West of Scotland:-)
Simultaneously Hearts could move into Murrayfield and we could see a real renaissance in Scottish Sport
Paul, you’re not suggesting someone other than the holder of a floating charge go through, what would turn out to be, a lengthy bid process to secure the end, utterly the end mind you, of Orc FC?
It’s worth pointing out that Heart of Scotland, presumably, would not immediately pull in all the orcs, whilst also they would haemorrhage diets, squinty-eyed half-goblins if you prefer.
Win-win.
Ortiz-Miss Ing
James Forest –
thanks for posting that. That’s all.
Jobo
TBB
We’ll know more about the side we’re likely to face in our next league match after the administrators do what an administrator’s got to do.
Interesting that Goian and Bocanegra were both yellow-carded yesterday. Bans for both ensue as a consequence. Whether the bans will be in place for the Celtic or Dundee United games I don’t know, but either way it won’t be good news for the wounded ones.
huns -(Don’t) Miss you
Paul67 et al
How would you describe someone who has become an apologist for himself?
James Forrest
James Forrest – much respect to (A) your numerous passionate and skilfully scribed posts over the years (B) your post last night, which has been much commented on; for my own part I did not see malice or incitement in your words and perhaps that’s because I’ve become accustomed to your style which although impassioned, doesn’t strike me as vindictive, and (C) for your quick and humble response to those who (understandably I now see) pointed out that you are indeed a bigger man than some interprettations of your words might portray.
Well done on all counts and more power to your pen.
JF
I didn’t see your post last night, but I do enjoy your posts :)
Misappropriation, embezzlement, appropriation, stealing.
Misinformation, propaganda, party line, half-truths.
Miss Struth.
So James is removing his post as some are offended. Fair enough.
But post about carrying Tommy burns coffin to add weight to your argument is acceptable. With comments of “balls of steel” for writing it. Double standards.
James Forrest is The Emperor of Ice Cream on 4 March, 2012 at 12:45 said:
Been off the site since yesterday around teatime, any links to McCoist’s comments?
@Pmacgiollabhain: Unconfirmed. I am hearing that Monday March 19th may be an interesting day on Planet Fitba.
James Forrest
I’d like to echo the sentiment of Celtinental above.
I certainly didn’t liken your analogy to rape , more like a rancid bullying husband being tied up by his long suffering wife and her lover…..a whole different meaning to that taken by others.
On Fat Sally , his comments are the truly reprehensible quotes on this site today. He knows he is painting a bigger target on the backs of Neil Lennon and Peter Lawwell , as by not naming names he is playing to the mentality of the wounded orcs. How any journalist can let him away by not following up the quote by asking who is he alluding to , and not letting him away with slithering off the hook , I do not know. Well , sorry , I guess we all do……
B. Lennox…………
Kwality.
James F, read your superb post re Sleekit Ally and totally got your points and sarcasm. Points well made….. As usual.
SffS
We’ve all typed posts we are not subsequently happy with, or Paul67 deletes for rules breaches.
And a lot of us will do so again.
Let’s move on ghuys.
WITH A TREBLE YELL!!!!!
I’ve just done the same!
Cancelled my espn subscription and asked the English gent to put a note on reason for cancelling….
Because of scott booth.
He then said … Who is this Scott booth I’ve had this a few times?
I said … Exactly! Who is he apart from a bitter wee man .
I feel good!
A couple of observations
Banner for Ayebrokes should be ‘If you’re having a Wake, Please Maintain a Dignified Silence Whilst We Get On With Having A Party………..Thank You.
Newco SPL
The real problem with the suggested approach of re-entry to save the TV deal is the power that affords to RFC Newco 2012. SPL ….. RFCNC please accept a 25 point deduction for the next 10 years and a loss of £2m each year from the TV deal and you get back in. RFCNC………… I see. You need us to allow you to feed off the TV deal. OK……. but we ain’t signing up to that. 10 points a season for 3 years (= euro ban) and no financials and you have a deal. If not then you SPL have no TV deal.
The SPL CANNOT hand any newco such a powerful card. The TV deal MUST been seen as superfluous to any deal.
The ONLY CORRECT thing to do is to follow the CURRENT rules. Any newco MUST start at the bottom and make an application to SFL along with anyone else who wants to.
ANY direct entry to the SPL deliberately to save a TV deal is tainted, prejudiced and bent.
The SPL would be better talking to the TV companies and negotiating what happens without an RFC and squeezing what is best rather than thinking about how to gerrymander their own rules to enable a pheonix to come in.
RFC
Is just like an ‘Alien’. There are no half measures. It cannot be caged, imprisoned or manacled. It must be killed off. That is why RFC must die. I have no doubt that a newco will emerge. As we get Alien 2 we all have a duty to try to ensure that it grows into a different being from Alien 1. Whether that’s possible is debatable but some energy put into THAT by politicians and guardians of the game might be time better spent.
HH
Hi Paul,
Interesting move – divide and rule:-) or the creation of a super-team built on Trad Scottish Calvinist values?
I’d like to see a merger between Queens Park & R@ngers playing at Hampden and using the history of QP and re-build another great Glasgow Club – after alll we need someone to skelp!
lennon’s passion at 13:00:
It upset quite a number of Celtic supporters to see Walter Smith and Ally McCoist get the honour of carrying Tommy Burns’ coffin. Tommy was a better man than most of us and I’m sure that it was his wish that they did so.
I think what some were saying was that if (and it has yet to be proven) Walter Smith and Ally McCoist knew that they had cheated Tommy out of a title or 2 due to illegal tax schemes or illegal contractd for players then it was even more disrespectful for them to carry his coffin as if they were the best of friends.
Mort
Re: Monday 19th march.
That makes sense. D&P have set deadline of 16th. Also coincides nicely with the ides of march.
Miss-Begotten
Ally – Miss TerBlobby
Mort
On the actual post from Paul:
Everton vacated Anfield (voluntarily) 120-odd years ago and Liverpool FC was created by a nearby publican to keep the stadium going as a source of income. Writing as a (distant) son of Govan (plenty of Tims in Govan), I’d like to see a team other than the Rangers reprresenting the ancient and handsome waterside settlement. The badge for Govan Town FC is already set – the historic sheep’s heid. Play in red, for Red Clydeside …I’d go myself when next up in Godzone Country.
On the Rangers game and the possibility of trouble ….
I was reading the administrators comments last night, and I was talking to my old man about them afterwards, and something dawned on me.
That game won’t take place as intended, if it takes place at all. The dominos are all being lined up for it. The preparations are being made. Whether it’s the police who call it off, the league itself, whether Rangers can’t complete the fixture (and the March 16 deadline is no coincidence … the day of the Dundee Utd game, and their last chance to stop March 25 being a league winner) ….
I think they are gearing up to pull the plug. I am willing to out on the limb right now and say that game won’t happen.
need to laugh every time i read a paper as there’s always something about the need for ranger or scottish football dies, but before ranger public demise all i have read was that scottish football was dead, bad, non-competitive, crap t.v money etc…etc…
now everyone is in save rangers mode telling us that in fact scottish football is better than they thought, but will be dead if ranger’s die and we’ll lose all the millions of pounds that sky and espn give us
every story i read is essentially sold as domes day, why is there not even one jurno willing to look at life without rangers (even for a short time), why do they not write about the potential to strip scottish football to the bone and start again, why dont they they look at all that is wrong with scottish football and offer suggestions to improve football for everyone
i honestly believe that scottish football is dead if they allow any newco to walk back into the spl, no matter what sport you play the most important thing is everybody being treated equally and fair competition. if a newco is allowed to walk directly into the spl they would be as well telling every other club’s fans to go home never to return
why dont they want rangers to die, i suspect a number of things underpin their thoughts on this subject from money, to bias and i suspect fear, fear because there has always been a ranger, always been an old firm
but if we allowed fear to stop us from change we would all still be living in caves rubbing sticks together to start fire.
change is inevitable and it is good, scottish football has needed change
if i were celtic and every other club in the spl i would thing long and hard about my next step, i have a feeling that a newco gaining direct entry to the SPL could lead to the death of other clubs
Broadfoot- Misseggventure
gsu
Re; 19th march
I can’t imagine they want us partying on the 25th on their patch either
If the 19th is liquidation day, meaning the game on the 25th wont go ahead, I hope Celtic are looking to play a friendly.
How good would it be for us all to have a party, with ice cream of course.
All proceeds to charity.