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Club AGM Report. I attended my first Rangers AGM in 1967. I was a Primary 7 schoolboy accompanying both my Father and Grandfather. The location was the Kenilworth Hotel(now demolished) at the bottom of Queen Street. The Chairman was John Lawrence and the Manager, Scot Symon suffered some strong advice. I remember the big talking points were the Dividend and Wembley tickets. My Gran's Co-op Divi' number was 10422, I could not work out how it impacted on Rangers? I suspect there were no more than a couple of hundred folks in the room. Yesterday, the Clyde Auditorium was struggling to seat the numbers trapping; the attendance was in excess of two thousand. Certainly, the most I have seen. The Club Chairman, Douglas Park opened the meeting and welcomed Michael Beale back to Rangers as our newly appointed Manager. Proceedings were then handed over to the Anderson Strathern Chair, Bruce Farquhar. He introduced the top table as : Kenny Barclay, Graham Park, Alastair Johnston, Ross Wilson, Michael Beale, Douglas Park, John Bennet, Stewart Robertson, James Bisgrove, Andrew Dickson and, Greig McKnight(Auditor). Farquhar then explained the voting card and it's use, he emphasised Resolution eight noting the special status and as such required 75% of the vote to be accepted. The resolution provided the necessary flexibility to the Board in terms of raising and spending the capital required to implement the Club's plans for Disabled supporters going forwards. a short video was shown and Andrew Dickson was asked to present Rangers prescribed plans for Disability? Dickson stood with an impressive sequence of visual aides, explaining : 1. the historical demand. 2. the desire to create the best provision in the Uk, an exemplar for the Disabled supporter. 3. the development deemed necessary for the wheelchair bound supporter. 4. a project team consisting of architects, engineers and, Disabled supporters grouping has been assembled to oversee the development. 5. some existing season ticket holders will be moved to accommodate the newly created wheelchair spaces. 6. over 1,000 seats will be cleared to create 162 wheelchair spaces(and attendants). 7. 1,800 new seats will be realised by extending the lips of both the upper tiers of both the Sandy Jardine(900) and Main Stands(900). 8. the Ibrox capacity will increase by 727. 9. the necessary disabled friendly kiosks, toilets and, lifts will also be installed. 10. resolution 8 is required to raise the capital to fund the project. At the conclusion of the presentation the audience applauded enthusiastically. The next presentation was the Financial Results, relevant until 300622. 1. There was considerable growth in every revenue stream. 2. The biggest growth was in the Commercial stream. 3. There has been a 82% increase in revenue - club generated £87 million. 4. Club made an operating profit of £5.8 million. 5. Flexibility of capital is most important if progress is to continue(another resolution 8 hint). 6. Auditors now most comfortable with the club going forward - sustainability and stability has been shown. 7. A visual aide of Cashflow Summary was utilised to highlight the considerable investment in the playing squad - in the last five years, £61 million has gone on transfers in whereas £13 million has come in. 8. As the Accounts culminate on 300622, the figures do NOT include the transfer fees accrued for Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey. Further, Champions League qualification and CL Group takings NOT included either. 9. There is £13.1 million in the bank. Next up was James Beale, he sat at a coffee table with a Rangers TV Journo for a tete-a-tete. Beale admitted to a comfortable familiarity at being back at Rangers. He had conducted six training sessions and his feeling was fantastic! He intends to continue to work daily with both players and recruitment. He has added four additions to the managerial staff? He is determined to establish a strong club identity, based on our style of play. Rangers will play attacking football, will not take a backward step, others will have to worry about us. He credited GVB for the Europa Cup final, winning the Scottish Cup and, CL qualification. He acknowledged Gio as a man of class, behaved impeccably in every situation. Stewart Robertson then Chaired the Q and A session that concludes the AGM. There were 16 questions taken from the floor in the just over 30 minutes allocated. It was the usual mix of expected and inane : 1. Why didn't we sign any Dutch players? Apparently, we did agree to sign a Dutch player(no name) during close season. The player then signed for another club(no name). 2. A Club 1872 Rep' asked Douglas Park to explain his intention? The Club Chairman answered - to provide the best team playing the best football, winning all they compete for ........ etc. He ended by stating, "Club 1872 is always welcome but must always be mindful of the NDA". 3. Ten first team players are currently injured, why are we suffering so many long term injuries? Robertson talked of our players playing continual Euro football, then playing international football too, a recipe for injuries in constant intense competitive situations. Interestingly, Michael Beal interrupted to state, "between leaving and returning, the players changed the way they trained and perhaps were not fully prepared". I would have liked more detail on that interruption. 4. Another Club 1872 rep' wanted to know how many loans had been repaid particularly, to John Bennet? John Bennet stated he was committed to the club to the tune of £23 million. He explained he had received £5 million back on last year's £13 million owed. Currently, the club owed him £8 million and last month he established a further £10 million facility for the club to draw on, if needed throughout this season. 5. Question on player trading - new players not playing enough games. Take Colak and Tillman out of the equation and the rest of the close season signings were averaging six games each out of a total of 27 played. Are we receiving value for money? Ross Wilson did not accept the equation. 6. MyGers - explain the allocation of tickets? Stewart Robertson got into an explanation of Gold, Silver and, Bronze. Resolved to meet questioner to resolve matter. 7. Is the Rangers store a Rangers store or a Carstore store? James Bisgrove was anxious supporters should look ahead to the opening of the multi tiered super store within the newly constructed Edmiston House. Apparently, it is due to open in January. The supplementary question made decent points, customer relations remain poor, there's nothing in the store for under a tenner, there are no Christmas stocking fillers and, who sanctioned a poster commemorating a record home defeat to Liverpool? 8. Can we establish a sustained player trading mode? Apparently, we have done so. 9. CL Group match pricing, why were we at the highest end? The Board decided to maximise the revenue stream, they were correct because Rangers sold every ticket available? 10. Is Ross Wilson the right man to develop the playing squad? 11. A political polemic against, "the Scottish Nasty Party"? 12. My Gers should be abolished? 13. Albion car park parking policy? These four questions were in turn given short shift, urged to withdraw the mike, ignored and, decided private consultation would be more beneficial. 14. Why have Kent and Morelos been allowed to run their contracts down? Douglas Park explained the Board had intervened in negotiations with both players but no progress had been achieved. Not hopeful of either signing extensions. 15. Is there opportunity for external investment? Yes. 16. When does the work start for the new state of the art Disabled facility begin? Summer of 2023. End of AGM. In conclusion, we have demanded our fellow Disabled supporters receive equitable treatment? I believe this proposal goes a long way to fulfil our demands. However, it is up to our fellow Bears to look at and decide it is what they want? Can nearby parking be achieved, will Disabled fans be able to view the games from elevated positions and remain warm and dry and, will the accompanying kiosks, lifts and, toilets be deemed acceptable to those provided? It is their decision and we should support it.

Wait till you find out Beale was apparently at the World Cup (which makes little sense as he was at the AGM).... and that Jason Cummings was also at the World Cup.....

I think people will be amazed at the difference a performing manager will make in current players.

Better off increasing the balance of youth in and around the first team. Should use what is left of this season to give some of the better youth prospects real gametime and see if we get a real player or two. It is also a potential route to adding value or fattening up livestock before they get traded for a decent whack at market. We need to find bodies for the player trading model. Our accounts won't work without them. Said a year or two back, our only viable route would end up being the Scottish diluted version of the Ajax model. Vital you have the right people in charge.

How much did Tav, Alfie, Aribo, Kamara and Bassey cost us? Less than £2M combined? Good deals out there to be had. You just need to know where to look for them.

100%. His distribution is as bad as it always was and we saw in the CL that if you just give possession back to teams from a kick-out from your keeper, they will punish you. We get away with it in the league, but even then, we often give possession away which breaks our rhythm and invites opponents on to us. He's a legend. But he also looks another year older and a wee bit slower that he did last year. Gio sticking with him after that semi-final at Hampden baffles me to this day.

Kamara, Kent, Morelos, Davis, McGregor, Arfield and Tav - I'd try to move them all on. It's been stale since 55.

Wait a minute ...... what are you trying to say here?

Didn't deter him. Came 8th out of 8.

We had a decent Summer window, from a sales point of view. I doubt we'll make any significant gains in January but even if we don't, it's a bit early to state the trading model is stuttering to a standstill.

King and Lowry were / are the next two players who could be sold for decent fees. King had a few English teams sniffing around when he extended his contract. Given our injury crisis, he was thrown into the team and its fair to say he's struggled. King may recover from his shaky start, but if / when Davies and Goldson return, King will drop out. Lowry was about to break through but picked up a bad injury. If rumours are to be believed, he returned to the B Team with a "questionable" attitude and lasted only 45mins of the first couple of games he played. Looks like he has knuckled down and is back training with 1st team after a couple of good performances in Lowland League. McCann looks a prospect and featured under both SG and Gio. I like Mc ausland but don't know of he has what it takes. I hope he does because on his game, he looks an excellent football player. Lovelace could have something to offer and Ure can score goals at Lowland League level but that doesn't guarantee success at 1st team level (see Tony Weston as an example). Pinning hopes on youth carries as much risk as shoping in the bargain basement, getting one or both working well will be down to luck as much as having the right people in place (which can only help though).

Not 1st team related, but Jack Harkness has signed a contract extension and we are credited with an interest in a young Hearts player James Wilson.

I hear Davie Weir is doing a great job at Brighton as Technical Director. Wonder if we could tempt him back as Wilson's or Robertsons placement? With you regarding Robertson who is nothing more than Motherwell standard. I'd add Park to the list as neither are "best in class".

I am fairly sure Beale will have final say on first team signings but I am not so sure Gio had the upper hand WRT squad mgmt as a whole. I think we'll take on board the successful change by Celtic regards recruitment. Lawwell left the building and new manager got the players he wanted. It showed how quickly you could turn round a situation with a good managerial appointment and good recruitment. Easier said than done, especially when we lack anywhere close to the budget they had. In an ideal world I would be looking to say Cheerio to Ross Wilson and Stewart Robertson. Replace Wilson, bring in decent CEO and a specialised PR professional. Plus upgrade medical staff. But it ain't an ideal world.

This World Cup has reinforced one thing. I realize now why I don't gamble. I would be livin in the park in a month.

We can get money for Barisic. He'd have to be on the shipping manifest.

He sounds like the sort of Scot responsible for the Darien Scheme.

I think he's worked his way through every Rangers site at one time or another.

That will be something of a miracle. Kamara hasn't shown any form for the last two years. He'd be one of the first off the books for me. No heart.

We need a better No.1 as soon as possible. It's that simple.

Agreed. I genuinely think we've seen the best of Morelos, let him go, but the others may surprise us.

Ex players you say ? where's @Rousseau when you need him?

Not even two days and already two former players up in this thread! I feel like celebrating.

Agreed, and C1872 can only have themselves to blame for the club trying to enforce this upon them. They attempted to circumvent the club and obtain commercially sensitive information which, at best, was disingenuous and, at worst, potentially significantly harmful to the club. This action showed just how unprofessional C1872 were/are. No surprise the club want to silence them.

Doesn't appear to be injury prone either , though i'm sure we could shake that out of him.

I'd drive Morelos to Tranmere to get him off the wage bill and out of the dressing room. IF Kent is going to Everton (DB rumour above), he could get a lift at the same time.

I think anyone we can get offers-for will go in January, especially Morelos & Kent.

And we've started to sign the best of youth players in Scotland. Recently signed Allan from Hibs and now looking at the kid from Hearts. I hope Lowy does make it. He certainly has the talent and ability, I hope he also has the desire and attitude required. He reminds of Ian Durrant and I'd he turns out half as good as Durrant we've won a watch. Ajax have been using this model for decades, we have (to our shame) just started it - it'll take time to develop.

You obviously need to produce or bring in a decent level of youth to have any hope of it working. I don't know enough to talk about individuals although I would love to see Lowry grab a chance because of how he plays. Tillman isn't our player as yet and it would be much better if Lowry could do enough to get in front of him. At least, give him the chance.

And have a top class scouting network

Are we really saying McLaughlan is that. A picnicker who gifts goals when playing out.

he has. He tried to stop John Bennet from investing in ranger. Where would be be without his 30 plus million

I can see Kamara returning to form. MB likes his three sitting midfielders (going by SG's spell) supporting the three attackers and attacking FBs.

We had too many central defenders, we had to free up wages etc, so it's another decision which makes sense if you don't then go and buy another CB with a bad injury record and keep the other one (Helander). It's the same as the decision to renew McGregor - it doesn't seem to make much sense when you look at our overall squad. It also doesn't fit the narrative that we didn't back Gio - just these few decisions have tied-up a significant amount of wage budget without really maintaining the quality in the squad, let alone actually improving it.

More like Tranmere Rovers...but I wouldn't put it past Everton to not only go for Kent, but pay way too much for him.

I'd love to know what the disqualifying criteria are because there are some stupefyingly inadequate people in the SNP.

My son bumped in to Porteous in a local shop a couple of months back and while my boy isn't a Hibs fan, Porteous was more than happy to stop for a picture and also took the time to ask him about who he played for, what position etc, a general chat about football and by all accounts was a thoroughly nice guy. Make of that what you will. He's clearly had issues off the field, as have lots of young Scottish footballers, but thought it was worth mentioning as a counterpoint to a lot I see online about him which seems to just focus on the infamous incidents which have been in the press.

Jim Duffy or Porteous? 😀😀

The problem is that their valid points are mixed in with their pro-King and anti-board/anti-Rangers rhetoric and actions and the valid points tend to get lost.

They are incredibly common, personally I've had to sign 2 in regards to Rangers once regarding the Rangers Fans Board (incidentally we weren't even allowed to set our own passwords for the internal email system) and once for the Disability Matters Group. Personally I think they're essential otherwise it isn't possible to function effectively without that in place.

Never Gonna happen - you know it and I know it. C1872 can be a success but not under the current structure and regime. I stopped contributing shortly after I started contributing as it was clear the issues they'd encounter going forward. I also own shares in my own name, I also lost shares. Doesn't make an organisation like C1872 less (or more) relevant.

I checked and it all stemmed from the Rev McQuarrie's revelation when he was expelled from the C1872 Board in relation to an email sent to the Board of Castore asking for details of the contract with Rangers. The email was allegedly sent by Laura Fawkes and Euan Mcfarlane behind the back of McQuarrie and Alan Fraser who were also on the C1872 board. The club took this as a breach of confidence, which seems a perfectly reasonable stance to take. Whilst the current office bearers at C1872 continue to be involved, or are unwilling to make amends in relation to this, I'm not sure whether this is actually going to be resolved any time soon.

Yes there's still a long waiting list of over a decade. Don't think there's ever been an effective monitoring system per se and undoubtedly if one were in place better use could be made of existing spaces. This has been raised numerous times over the years but for 6 or 7 years we didn't even have a ticket scanner at the entrance. I assume when the ticketing system is finally replaced our tickets will be fully integrated into the system so better use can be made of the spaces. I'm confident the proposals will adequately cater for the need/demand of wheelchair fans and will allow a lot more people access to see Rangers play at Ibrox. It's worth pointing out too that the propsals will create an equal amount of ambulant disabled easy access seating.

Much as I'm frustrated at the lack of questions on some areas (legal issues, etc), I think the Board played a blinder yesterday. They did a good job at outlining the overall progress made in the last 5 years in terms of investments and decisions. They stuck to their promise on improving disabled facilities and made a strong case for trying to calm some of the concerns over our financials that we have (where has the money gone, etc). For me its now down to Bennett et all following through on their promises of improved communication, though the AGM was a start. Whilst appreciating they have to be conscious of the market rules and price sensitive information, I still believe they can and should do more to explain some of the challenges and priorities they are trying to balance. I recall stating in the summer several times that the support is hyper sensitive to financial matters, but in setting out where we are and where money is being spent on a more regular basis, we could have cut down that noise considerably. Park also seemed to offer an olive branch to C1872 on engagement, albeit it seemed to me that they may now get into a public war of words around the NDA issue, though I hope they don't. C8172 to me seem short-sighted on this as they surely have to realise that being a shareholder can gain considerable access but they have to understand where the line is in terms of price-sensitivity and commercially sensitive information. They could easily navigate an NDA and publish minutes via an agreed protocol with the club, should they so choose. This does not need to compromise their role in representing member interests - it would take someone with gravitas and integrity to perform such a role, but perhaps thats the real issue with C1872. Further, whether it was designed to be this way I don't know, but in revealing the detailed plans to revamp the stadium, and the fact that increasing the capacity will require additional funding, they've outlined a strong case for the share issue resolutions which I think the majority of supporters and shareholders will be in favour of (and indeed are based on the voting results). In turn this has pulled the rug from under King and C1872 who I think now look rather silly. Imagine going into your first meeting with the club as a C1872 rep and trying to reset relations... and thats the position you have to defend. Bonkers. Some of the questions left a lot to be desired but you're always going to get that at AGMs. Even at my own company's AGM we prep for all sorts of off-the-wall questions that may arise so that the Board are ready to answer, but we regularly get something utterly innocuous or mad being asked that we couldn't possibly have predicted. Thats the chance you take and by extending the time available I think they showed a willingness to engage. A platform to build on, strong financials, improving (but plenty to work on) communication and cleverly flanking C8172... pretty sure the Board will have enjoyed yesterday all things considered.