http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Sale-of-Rangers-FC-39will.6650410.jp

 

Quote

Sale of Rangers FC 'will go ahead by mid-January'

 

Published Date: 05 December 2010

By Tom English

 

A DEAL to sell Rangers Football Club to Scots venture capitalist Craig Whyte will go though by the middle of January, according to senior sources at the club.

Whyte, 39, met with Ibrox chairman Alastair Johnston in Glasgow to discuss the purchase of Sir David Murray's shareholding in the club.

 

The proposed £33 million deal will wipe out the existing debt that has stymied Rangers in the transfer market for two years.

 

Yesterday, sources at Rangers said the deal, barring any late hitches, could be completed before Christmas but it is more likely that it will be done by the middle of January. "We can't say with 100 per cent certainty, but Whyte has the money and is very convincing. We think the deal will happen," said the source.

 

Murray has presided over Rangers for 22 years but has been keen to sell his stake for some time.

 

Hopefully the debt thing is not true as that is what is holding them back at the moment.

http://bluenose.co.uk/mr.custard.htm

 

 

 

you couldn't make it up

Oh my word. Incredible.

The new Rangers board meet the media for the first time....

 

How legal would it he to fill in dd forms for a charity using the account number and sort code?

Just to confirm the account no is 00741594 or is the 5 a 6?

anyone who sets up the other email will get the unclaimed payments

wish it was a hotmail etc email address

anyone who sets up the other email will get the unclaimed payments

wish it was a hotmail etc email address

 

Buy the domain for a fiver.

 

Didn't Jeremy Clarkson print his bank details in his newspaper column in an effort to prove nobody could do anything with them, only to find numerous direct debits to charities be set up for him? That would be awful. Awful...

Folk on P&B claiming the code for the international payments is also wrong and in completely the wrong format.

 

Also I see Murray has apologised for selling to Whyte, apparently he was duped, the poor dear.  No apology for creating this mess in the first place however 

Folk on P&B claiming the code for the international payments is also wrong and in completely the wrong format.

 

Also I see Murray has apologised for selling to Whyte, apparently he was duped, the poor dear.  No apology for creating this mess in the first place however 

 

 

I don't buy (no pun intended) it at all. If Murray could rewind time I'm sure he'd do it all again. He was desperate to get off of the sinking ship hence he sold his shares for £1.

Folk on P&B claiming the code for the international payments is also wrong and in completely the wrong format.

 

Also I see Murray has apologised for selling to Whyte, apparently he was duped, the poor dear.  No apology for creating this mess in the first place however 

 

Duped?  He's a business man, he should know all about due diligence.

 

Yep, and he ignored it to GTFO

Part 3 from Alex Thomson:

http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/

 

OK – yes, I’d expected a deluge of emails when I asked for non-Rangers’ fans to respond to the current interesting period chez Ibrox .. but I hadn’t bargained on Christian Aid getting in touch.

 

So – just for a line or two – Scottish fans bear with me for a digression into NGOs and Ibrox. Believe me, I’m as surprised as you.

 

It turns out that Christian Aid recently decided to look into football governance across these islands and the findings came up with some intriguing material. I received the following email from Christian Aid:

 

“Back in season 2009/10, Christian Aid released the report Blowing the Whistle, which includes a league table of financial secrecy in UK and Irish football. Rangers were the only Scottish club to make the top 20, coming in at number 6. We also included a box on the South African tax issues facing Rangers director Dave King, which have subsequently come to a head.”

 

Coming with this an attachment setting out why financial openness matters in sport generally and in football in particular. The argument ran that a football club is more than a plc in reality, if not in company law:

 

“Football clubs are social entities, not corporate assets. As the football fans’ organisations Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters Federation said when they backed Christian Aid’s call for transparency in 2010: “the story of these clubs is the story of those communities, and the stories of the generations of families who have supported them through thick and thin: as someone once said, ‘No one ever had their ashes scattered at Tesco’s’.”

 

“The social value of clubs makes it possible – sometimes! – for club owners to make millions from fans but it also imposes a great responsibility on owners. When they put clubs in the hands of highly complex companies… they make it much harder for fans to be confident that owners are meeting that responsibility. That is one reason why financial secrecy must be opposed. The case of Rangers highlights once again the emotional cost for fans.”

 

And what of those fans. One thing is for sure – when Alex Salmond said recently that in his opinion Glasgow Rangers are important to the future of Scottish football – he was sure to enrage as many fans as he would please.

 

Fan after fan after non-Rangers supporters said they believed passionately that this is a huge opportunity. The potential down-sizing of RFC, fans say, is the golden opportunity at last to create the kind of competitive league which fans have craved for many a long, lean, silverware-free year..

 

Gus emailed saying:

 

“A competitive league would make up a significant amount of the money lost from Sky/ESPN if Rangers were to become weaker, through increased crowds.  My team, for years has cuts its cloth according but Rangers continue to win things with money they did not even have, thats surely not sporting fair play?”

 

No Gus, it does not seem terribly fair and there’s little doubt that Rangers were living on tick – that’s not in dispute, Very big fat tick at that. The argument runs that the loss of possible TV revenue is basically compensated for, and more, by a revival of  interest across the rest of the SPL and beyond. The concept is, people actually both to turn up through the turnstiles if they sense that at long last the ‘diddy teams’ in the Old Firm parlance, might actually become undiddy and start winning things.

 

Many, like Ryan, directed their ire on the governing bodies of the game whom so many accuse of being overly cosy with – and dependent upon — Rangers and Celtic:

 

“When are the SPL and SFA going to listen to the fans, the fans want a bigger league with an even distribution of sponsor/tv to all clubs so they can develop and have a realistic chance of competing for honours but with the current system the Old Firm dictate what is going on they pushed through a undemocratic voting system so they could control the game in Scotland and let’s be honest they don’t care where they finish in the league as long as it is ahead of their rivals and they are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve this.”

 

Many pointed to the English Premier League – often criticised by English fans  as uncompetitive in too many season of late (writes a loser Newcastle United fan whose team last won silverware when he was , but which is in fact a nirvana of competitive mystery every season compared with the increasingly hopeless fare served up by the SPL:

 

Here’s Keith:

 

“Whilst that works in countries like England, where there is so much money that even the likes of Wigan get a slice, it doesn’t work in countries like Scotland, where there are 2 massive clubs who have all the power and several middle-sized/lower-sized clubs with no power, feeding off the proverbial scraps. With that in mind, our league is uncompetitive and dull, and the lack of competition affects everything from the quality of our youth players to our representatives’ performance in Europe.”

 

And so to that opportunity:

 

“This is a chance for Scottish Football to start recovering; for our traditionally strong clubs such as my own team, Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts, Dundee and Dundee United to actually have a future as a level playing field would be realistic. The game is currently on a life support machine in this country and a massive factor in that is how much sway the Old Firm have over the rest; financially, media exposure, voting rights etc.”

“What non SPL Teams want is a fair league, like any other small European country, where it is a competitive sport, not just something that makes two clubs very rich and guarantees them victory all the time. It’s sad, but not surprising, that a lot of English-based media look at the SPL as a Celtic-Rangers fetish, because it is quite interesting, but for Scottish fans its ultimately very frustrating and not how virtually every other country in the world views the game.” 

 

So wrote Stuart – helpfully adding that in Austria 6 points separate 6 teams, and in Poland at the top 6 points separate 5 teams. not your SPL by any stretch, we can all agree.

 

And so, concluded Stuart:

 

“Now doesn’t THAT sound exciting? Its time for a league based on fair competition, not keeping the rich rich and the poor poor.”

 

Equally there were lots of ideas out there to stir things up and change the way things happen – if the authorities want to do it. Though with the current SPL 11 -1 voting system in place it is easy to stymie any initiative that basically reduces the income and grip of Celtic and Ranger upon things. Another Keith suggested this:

 

“The governing bodies in Scotland could simply find ways of making the league fairer. They could be innovative and use an American Sports model, for example, where all the income is gathered by the league and split amongst the member clubs. That is just one of many ideas which would allow for a fairer game in Scotland.”

 

Keith – if you’re out there holding your breath – please don’t. It is Scottish football that’s on life-support – not you please.

 

Finally a word about the Old Firm and use of. About five zillion Celtic fans have pointed out how offensive they find it to be bracketed with Rangers. The answer my Celtic friends, lies in the words of these last three blogs and the verdict of your fellow fans is upon you. Like it or not there’s a frim, it’s old and it’s Celtic-Rangers and until the power balance is shifted by whatever means, that won’t change much.

 

Remember Burns and the gift of seeing yourselves as others see you.

 

Expect further blogs and depending upon the digging, some TV coming up, as the Rangers Ibrox saga unfolds.

Part 3 from Alex Thomson:

http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/

 

He quotes me in that but doesn't name check me... the cheek of it!

Just as pertinent that they are planning ticketus as a creditor, but yes the gift just keeps on giving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1pDk75Y1SZ4#!

 

nicely pinched mizer

 

Funny as fuck though, that shoulder popping is immense

Fucking hell. Now that was cringe worthy.

The fuck.....

It's locking away he needs.

Classic  .

Notices of Complaint issued

Thursday, 15 March 2012

 

The following Notices of Complaint have been issued by the Compliance Officer:

 

Issued to: Rangers FC

Dates: 6th May 2011 to 6 March 2012

Disciplinary Rule(s) allegedly breached: Rules 1, 2, 14, 66 and 71

Principal Hearing Date: Thursday, 29th March 2012

 

Issued to: Craig Whyte, Director, Rangers FC

Dates: 6th May 2011 to 6 March 2012

Disciplinary Rule(s) allegedly breached: Rules 66 and 71

Principal Hearing Date: Thursday, 29th March 2012

 

Rule 1 (b): All members shall:

 

(b) be subject to and comply with the Articles and any statutes, regulations, directives, codes, decisions and International Match Calendar promulgated by the Board, the Professional Game Board, the Non Professional Game Board, the Judicial Panel, a Committee or sub-committee, FIFA, UEFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sport;

 

Rule 2: Each member shall procure that its officials, its Team Staff and its players act in accordance with Rule 1.

 

Rule 14 (g): Full membership or associate membership may be suspended or terminated, or a fine may be issued, in any of the following circumstances:-

 

(g) where a full member or an associate member suffers or is subject to an insolvency event.

 

Rule 66: No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, referee, or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bring the game into disrepute.

 

Rule 71: A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football and shall not act in any manner which is improper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnwJ5KIcKX4

I've read enough forum posts, newspaper reports, journalists opinions, radio gossip and tv interviews about what might happen.

 

So far, after weeks of being told they've cheated the league, government and rivals out of MILLIONS the only people who have had to suffer are a few players that have cut their earnings down to £5k a week.  Where that money is coming from is by-the-by.

 

I want to see some fucking action.

 

Some interesting tweets from Alex Thomson (Channel 4 reporter) I've lifted from elsewhere:

 

Asked

"What is your motivation here Alex, why has channel 4 who have no football links decided to target Rangers?"

 

He responded with

"News. I had no tsunami links till Japan"

 

alex thomson ? @alextomo

 

    Reply

    Retweet

    Favorite

    · Open

 

@ tagsbo I'm touched by yr concern, but after 25 yrs as a war cor I can sense conspiracy a bit

 

and his latest blog:

 

Over the past week I have blogged the views of non-Rangers fans about what is happening at Ibrox and across the game in scotland generally. Now it is the turn of Rangers fans themselves.  Celtic fans promised me I would get a great deal of abuse, bigotry and arrogance. They are wrong. What they delivered was considered constructive and informed.

 

True, far fewer Rangers fans emailed than the deluge of non-Rangers supporters last week and I am still unsure quite what the reasons are for that. Frankly you couldn’t blame them for being catatonic with shock given the shenanigans around Ibrox. I just hope the previous blogs have not put them off. However plenty have got in touch and here’s what these Ibrox faithful have to say.

 

15 rangersfans r 602x200 Rangers fans have their say

 

Like most, Simon took it on the chin, no ducking the issues now:

 

“Rangers FC, from the boardroom to the supporter have been bereft of any real leadership for more than 2 decades. At a corporate level we suffered the autocratic and egotistic rule of Sir David Murray. He used a fire-fighting style of management…and overspends…”

 

Further – and this is significant as fans of all persuasion keep on pointing to this across Scotland – he alleges that an all-too-cosy relationship between Rangers and the local media (newspapers in particular), became so serious that people simply lost touch with financial reality – in fact reality full stop. Simon again:

 

“His (David Murray’s) control of the support was excellent and was via his contacts in the media. This created a culture within much of the support that forgot any critical awareness they may have had when it came to the football club. This meant Craig Whyte was able to ride into town (takeover may be a huge story in itself) and stay on the saddle for so long despite what was out there in the public domain.”

 

And if I hear the phrase “succulent lamb”  once more,  I’ll go vegan. A notorious story written by a Glasgow journalist praised David Murray’s taste in fine wine and succulent lamb dinners. It’s become a Glasgow by-word for a local media who bought unquestioningly into the lavish claims being made by the likes of Mr Murray at Ibrox.

 

So on this Simon speaks for many more: Rangers, Celtic, Heart of Caledonian Thistle Academicals, you name it.

 

Many Rangers fans said critcs just want to see the club destroyed – but that is not borne out by my inbox at any rate, of many thousands of responses.

 

That said, most  Rangers supporters accepted the fans had been ‘duped’ – to coin Mr Murray’s favourite current word – and  many Rangers fans really are facing it square on and dealing with it. Many say it’s not about football results any longer at all. It is about re-establishing a credible identity for the entire football club so many cherish across Scotland – across the world.

 

Ross took the chance to put me firmly in my place (rightly) and point up the true losers in all this:

 

“While you are doing your little blogs and reports from London, remember there are good honest people who have been victims of this, they have paid thousands of pounds to follow their team under the stewardship of men who are not fit for purpose. We, the Rangers supporters are the biggest victims in this situation.”

 

Agreed. Ross, I can make the blogs bigger if you really want. And for info I’ve not done any reports on TV from London – just Glasgow. I intend keeping it that way.

 

And for all those out there – many, many of them – who seek to portray the relationship between Rangers and the SFA as some kind of cosy club, well many an Ibrox regular would disagree. Rangers Football Club has been convicted of no crime thus far and should be presumed innocent until the Tribunal and other investigations show otherwise, say many. But they feel shunned by football’s authorities in Scotland in their hour of need. Here’s Frank:

 

“The SFA and SPL appear to be the only two bodies in world football that do not wish to assist a member club in times of trouble…why is this?  As yet Rangers have been found guilty of no crime!”

 

It was repeatedly pointed out that Employee Benefit Trusts (the means by which many Rangers were paid, and at least one director we now know) are entirely legal and will bother nobody if properly administered – though much hinges upon that ‘properly’. Robert suggests this is a sideshow and not the real issue at Ibrox at all:

 

“There is a real anger towards David Murray and Craig Whyte for the position we now find ourselves in. Rather than governance of the SFA and the SPL and looking at a conspiracy that doesn’t exist – I would suggest a more pertinent line of investigation which would be welcomed by all at Rangers Football Club would be into the actions of the Murray Group …”

 

That being of course, David Murray’s group which bought Rangers, undeniably took it places and to resounding success on the field .

 

So was due diligence carried out upon Mr Whyte? Undeniably fertile ground in which to dig .That is something Robert, and surely  other fans across the country could agree upon?

 

On that, as on so many other aspects of Ibrox, much more will no doubt come out in the days and weeks to come.

 

For now, I’ll get this out, say thanks to all Rangers fans for helping me out when you’ve all got better thngs to be doing, and book my Easyjet passage back to Glasgow for next week – watch this space.