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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Really sad to hear about Paul McBride tonight. Couldn’t care less re his sexuality but a bit puzzled by his political preferences. What is undeniable is that he had an amazing intellect linked to a courageous determination to challenge prejudice and bigotry. Our country is diminished by his death. Condolences to his partner, family and friends. One of the good guys!!
s revenue & customs
sorry to hear the news about Paul McBride
RIP
Hugh Keevins was on Radio Clyde for the phone in with Terry Cassidy and David Low that won a Sony Award for radio broadcasting.
They’ll not be winning award for their coverage of the Rangers tax case.
The shettleston town hall was save our celts and before celts for change got started. Ithe story i heard was they had 10 at the first meeting in the city Halls 20 at the second, 200 at the third – “we’re going to need a bigger hall”
and went to govan in December 93 before going on the road. the rest is history.
At that time they were getting spat at and accused of being anti-Celtic by board supporters. Even though a bhoycott was called just under 10,00 Celtic fans turned up and continued to support the board and the team.
Sad to hear about Paul McBride – RIP Paul
ESPN – Cancelled!
I thought Blackman played ok. He got a few welcome to the SPL tackles. Very unlucky with the goal tho!!
I wouldn’t be too concerned about the display of Lustig or Blackman on Saturday. I wasn’t exactly knocked out by big Victors first showings but he’s turned out to be a player and a half!
Give them time to bed in. Would like to see more of what the big Polish striker can do too.
Can anyone recommend any Hotels in Amsterdam? Snobby boutique preferred by mrs
This starts in 4 minutes.Now known as Sportsscene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5vRPPIWzhQ
Some cracking hotels in Amsterdam but I wouldn’t take the missus
If several Rangers’ players have their contracts terminated tommorrow what actually happens to them? For example – could we sign Lee Wallace or would any such business have to wait until the next transfer window?
DJBEE,
It depends what the ‘bee’ stands for. Is it for the commonly referred to barsteward variety (in which case you are likely to enjoy a wide family gene pool) or is it more of the busy-bee tendency, where you might find a larger family group at the moment as like-minded Tims are VERY busy on the timtirnet dealing with all things relating to the demise of Ayebrokes.
I would love to see Fergus McCann unfurl the league flag next season. Maybe it would make up for the disgrace of the last time.
Proper thanks and respect due to that man.
HH
Seville67 on 4 March, 2012 at 21:39 said:
Big Day Tomorrow at the Big Hoose.
Farewell
Papac
McClugger
Bocanegra
Alexander
Healy
Wylde
Wallace
Aluko
Kerkar
Perry
Little
Hemmings
and 3 other youngsters
Seville67
————————
That lot will get them no where near the £1m they need to save each month.
Thoughts and prayers with Paul’s family, sad loss. RIP
In colour!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDjOQuckjpg&feature=related
Don’t know if this has been posted already, but apparently in 1996, Andy (spit) Goram was on a mere £1,000 a week, at a time when most Rangers first team players were on £8-10k.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BOOZER+GORAM+HAS+TO+SCRAPE+BY+ON+pounds+1000+A+WEEK%3B+Court+claim+puts…-a061251268
Could this be “evidence” of a hidden secon contract?
Sorry if that link stretches the page.
1993 celts for change movement, a defining piece of the history of Celtic football club, with some desire, some leadership and heart the Celtic support did something pretty unique, the Celtic support never fails to amaze me
Which makes me proud each day when I wake up to know that I am part of a large world wide family, that has a Heart and cares
Mouldy67
the rangers players will be free agents and can sign for any team that wants them. Wallace should go to Hearts as they are still owed.
StMikesBhoy
Stretched it?
Am on the boat tae Dunoon shun FFS!
HH
Twists-Sorry mate,was getting Visas sorted,yes over for Paddys Weekend.Hope a League Cup victory and possible title party.:}
Paul Mcbride RIP
During some tough times for our beloved Celtic FC and our manager Neil Lennon, you were one of the people to stand up for both
I just hope that when you look down from heaven that you will see your good work continued
RIP
Mullet and co
Intercontinental
Rob McLean looks like he’s been supping vinegar….nice!
T4
Huns highlights on the tele…. whats with all the flags around the touchline before the match?
Last night of the proms?
MWD
“police have evidence of referee dealings”?!!
RIP Paul McBride
Buddy Morrisey on 4 March, 2012 at 21:50 said:
Have to say as far as I was concerned at the time Fergus could have been Craig Whyte. I was very worried that so many folk were getting caught up on the hysteria and knew very little about the guy.
I then spoke with a mate who’s job was training business people. He explained about the MASSIVE untapped potential of Celtic and that I should get fully behind Fergus. I started softening a little, but was still cautious.
Then I met an old school mate, whose father-in-law mixed with the suits in the main stand. He told me that Fergus was genuine and that the old board were totally trapped in the past and completely inept.
After that I was totally in. But I had to hear it from people I knew and trusted.
Rico
Like others Email sent to ESPN. Hope all CQNers follow.
Mullet and Co on 4 March, 2012 at 21:54 said:
Daughter got the Movenpick last year for £80
a night,she highly recommends it. I have stayed
in 4 different hotel in the dam,all very good.
BTW prices are sky high for hotels ,£80 was bid on priceline ,no problems at all.
Referee dealings eh!!!! We need more on this!
Notthebus: re: Fergus
Much obliged for the link, loved the guy then, he absolutely echoes my moment re: Bayern celebrating a goalless draw, such a humble guy, didn’t get anything like the press or the praise he deserved. Being compared with Saddam Hussein was appalling, especially so as it was regarding a court case that he WON! Heaven knows the reaction had he lost that case.
He wouldn’t say it but he deserves to be mentioned in the same bracket as Walfrid, Stein, Johnstone and Larsson.
What a contrast between Fergus and SDM! SDM thought very little of spending £900 million of other peoples money while at the same time disenfranchising the 10s of thousands of shareholders ever further. No-one bought into Murray’s last rights issue not because they didn’t want to but because they expected rightly that Murray wouldn’t dilute his shareholding. For Fergus, it was central to his very idea of customer service to use the fans money responsibly and empower them so as to have a genuine influence over the club’s long term future.
He is (or ought to be) the embodiment of the modern-day Celtic, but unfortunately large numbers of people will disagree and too much water has passed for that really to change in any substantial way.
The Craig Burley’s and Pierre Van Hooijdonk’s and Paolo Di Canio’s got their arguments in first and loudest, and given Fergus’ quiet and humble disposition, he was never going to win the media battle, a small chipping away at Burley’s arguments is the best he can hope for.
New found respect for Pat Fenlon, not toeing the party line.
Might find himself on the banned list :0
Kittoch on 4 March, 2012 at 22:03 said:
I couldn’t believe rangers had the neck to play Wallace yesterday against the team that they have failed to pay for his services. Cheeky monkeys.
Rico
Pat Fenlon missed all of Rob MacLean`s prompts. :-)
Have not read back and have not read todays palptalk loyal offerings.
I did last night read Murrays acolytes trying to keep the nation on the same page as them by concentrating on the UEFA license issue rather than the SPL license issue.
As there is an Emergency SPL summit meeting tomorrow to discuss finance. Has the question into who will actuallly be representing the huns at this meeting been answered ?
Can any kind Tim point me in the direction of the articles with regards to the Ticketus 24m sale being deposited in an MIH account and thats where the missing millions are ?
When a 4th year was pawned off did Ticketus also deposit this in an MIH account or a Craig Whyte account ?
Are Duff and Phelps protecting the Murray lie of a 1 pound sale to avoid VAT on that sale and who got the money ?
Sounds like it to me.
Sounds like they would like to keep the hun topped up with the 1m a month tax interest charge until the result of the FTT.
Therefore it sounds like Duff and Phelps are doing Craig Whytes bidding by keeping the original Murray liquidation and phoenix plan on track.
Can the SPL stand up to the SFA ?
So bhoys and ghirls where is this all being printed ?
HH
Well, well, well, it’s finally coming to light.
Bent referees and dodgy reports, who would have thunk it……….
We can’t do without Rangers, ha ha ha ha ha, poor Rangers, ha ha ha, still no mention of the Rangers deserve it.
Cheats the lot of them and that includes everyone that backs them to get back into the SPL.
Scottish media saying bend the rules to help cheats, please tell me they’re not serious with this.
Have you ever heard the likes of this in yer life, bend the rules to help cheats, it’s like saying someone from the british Olympic team is to be reinstated because they need him but they don’t mention he cheated.