bluebear54

Unless I haven't heard anything, there has been liitle or no strategic input in the game since Regan arrived. Monumental amounts of work in redefining the rules, anti-sectarianism, stricter sanctions and an unholy interest in all things Rangers. But nope, no strategic input. Unless the strategy is that the national team are on a one way ticket to compete with the likes of Andorra and San Marino.

If they end up sharing 50% of CFC's revenue it would bring a smile to my face. These bassas brought this to head. The karma would be sweet.

Am I wrong in thinking that the SFA should be spending their time better by making their guidelines and the relevant legislation relating to player contracts/registration clear? Am I wrong in thinking that the SFA should be spending their time better by ensuring the survival of the Club which essentially guarantees the future for the largest fan base in Scotland. I feel that sometimes we have got so mired in our own problems that we fail to see the bumbling mess that the governing bodies are making of this. As far as I'm aware, this kind of situation has NEVER happened in the history of world football, and any other association would have been proactive a long time ago. The SFA are sitting idly by, allowing - nay actively aiding and helping - the largest football Club in Scotland to cease to exist, and all the related jobs and income that have traditionally come from it. Another first for Regan. Historically, we've never been blessed with competency in the SFA, but Regan takes the cake. He's taking incompetency to a hitherto unimagined level. The cynic in me says that when he has done his job, the real powers that be will shove him out the door before he damages anything more - particularly the income and aspirations of CFC. I'd be perfectly happy to take a year out and have an Public Inquiry and a shitload of court cases. Also happy to contribute to it. And while I'm ranting, where are our fan groups and the RFFF on this? We no longer need a shitload of diverse interests. We need one strong fan group - and only one - singing from the same hymn sheet, letting us know what's going on, and doing the job they should be doing. Saving the Rangers.

Agreed. But we will be emasculated over the summer - but kept in a position that will retain maximum financial benefit for everyone else.

Just a thought. Why are "SFA, SPL and SFL chiefs locked in talks" about Rangers being in the First Division when: a) the meeting to decide if we get into the SPL hasn't been held yet and, b) we haven't applied to join the SFL? Has the Club been consulted or has it been party to the negotiations? It all stinks. And even if all this comes about, I'm sure there are further sanctions on the way, in fact, the way everything's looking, I'm not sure if we'll be playing football next season.

What a stitch up. As far as I'm aware, the SPL don't have jurisdiction over TV rights for the SFL. Also Rangers haven't signed any contract. How can they decide what happens to our media rights? They actually need us to keep their SKY deal alive but won't fucking admit it. No Rangers on SKY, no deal. So they want us to have kick offs on Fridays,Mondays and God knows when, but they'll keep all the dosh and give our share to the SFL. The laugh is that they want the 11-1 vote scrapped, yet they want a 3-1 voting structure for an amalgamated body. Hypocrites. I'm spitting.

If reports are true, and there are moves afoot to merge SPL and SFL, I can only see it as a fudge. There can't have been any proper consultation, nor an effective business case and business plan drawn up. Lawyers would need months to scope this one out. Even a small matter like SPL restructuring has been ongoing for years and hasn't got anywhere. How can a back of a fag packet plan be expected to Create a viable way forward? It's either a desperate ill advised fudge or a load of tosh. What it isn't is a well thought out plan for the future of Scottish football.

The way I'm seeing this is that a SPL decision to refuse us entry is not a sanction. Sanctions will follow that, suspended until we get back in the SPL. We will also have to deal with a number of SFA sanctions. If we take matters into our own hands, that can be seen as an admission of culpability and a self imposed punishment. I would like to think that makes things a lot more difficult for the governing bodies to justify further punishment. I really believe going to SPL 3 will leave us in a better position than forced exile PLUS sanctions. There is also the reputational value of doing it.

We are not going to get voted in. I'm convinced. Zappa's right (now) and it's about the voting structure. That in itself is a perverse course of justice as Sellik will eventually be the major losers out of this ( apart from us of course) Vlad? Wow - what a screwball!

I'll, ehm, leave it up you to tell him to his face, Frankie!:devil:

We'll be in bigger shit if this bid is accepted. Diehard Celtic fans. Property developers. Failed companies. Allegations of corruption. Alarm bells ringing? Jeez - mine are deafening ....

Another website has recently published an analysis of standard business practice following administration or liquidation - http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/...-and-sanctions. The Rangers Standard article – which is well worth a read - has sharpened my senses and has led me to make a suggestion which ought to leave most fans, if not all, happy. It may even allow the SPL and the SFA to breathe a sigh of relief. What particularly stood out in the article were the references to retribution, reputational damage and rehabilitation. Let's call them "the three R's". Well, we’ve certainly experienced “R’s” in abundance recently. I challenge any fan - no matter their persuasion - to deny that Rangers have already suffered immense reputational damage. A neutral could also be excused for thinking that revenge and retribution have been high on the agenda too, driven on by fan groups and forums, blogs with the specific purpose of destroying Rangers, and a frenzied media swimming around like a school of starving sharks. At the epicentre, we have the SFA and the SPL – incapable of dealing with the matter decisively. Although there are many newborn conspiracy theorists among my fellow fans, I tend to put the actions of the authorities down to constantly changing pressure and agendas from outside their own organisations. Arguably they also suffer from an almost admirable lack of gumption in identifying the greater perspective and a perceived lack of skill in being able to address the issue effectively. I hope everyone – and that includes any non-Rangers fans - can see that this charade isn't going to end soon. It will continue, like a cancer, and it will either devour Scottish football or destroy it for years to come. Apart from the reputational damage being heaped upon the Club, this is gradually destroying the reputation of the national game and its governing bodies. This grotesque feeding frenzy will not stop with the next fudge or punishment, and it will not stop with the one after that. Apart from some Rangers fans, no one else seems to see this. So, I would like to think that we can all view this situation for what it is. It’s gone too far now to fudge the issue, and in my opinion it's now time for the Club to be proactive and take some much recommended medicine and unilateral action. In proposing this, I find inspiration from a surprising source, which is a quote from Peter Lawwell on Thursday, May 10. “Our guiding principle is that we will do what is in the best interests of Celtic Football Club and our supporters, consistent with upholding the interests and reputation of Scottish football. I can also give assurance that we will communicate further and directly with supporters at the appropriate time.” Now, for quite some while, Rangers fans haven’t had the luxury of a Club representative offering to communicate directly with supporters. We’ve had the predator who was Craig Whyte, and since February, the Administrators. We now have Charles Green, but, on his own admission, he’s hardly a Rangers man. He’s a money man. No one has given a Scooby, and the Rangers fans have been left rudderless. No matter, what I propose is in the best interests of Rangers, and in the best interests of the reputation of Scottish football. I would suggest that we withdraw our recent application for the SPL, and apply to join SPL 3 immediately. I believe it would satisfy the majority of Scottish fans' blood lust, it would allow the media to concentrate on the game of football. It would allow us to slowly build again - out of the limelight - and build a reputation that once again follows the principles on which the Rangers were founded. My point is not about one-upmanship. It is about taking matters into our own hands. With the present course, we are going to be screwed slowly, bit by bit, until there's nothing left. A blind man could see that. Equally, Scottish football is going down a route which will lead to such polarisation that it will become unsustainable. My suggestion will take the heat off the whole issue, while providing the solution that most rival fans want - revenge, retribution and rid of us. It will also provide a moral cornerstone for the Club. “This is what you wanted, so we’ll take the medicine and get on with it. Now let’s move on.” It will let the media concentrate on the good side of Scottish football, and how our game is on the rise. It will offer recompense for the other SPL Clubs when they challenge in Europe and reap the rewards. It will also emasculate any further or future attempts by the SPL or SFA to progressively "punish" us. For us and for Scottish football, it provides the three 'r's' - retribution, rehabilitation and recompense.

Excellent JC. Many thanks.

My point was not about oneupmanship. It was about taking matters into our own hands. We are going to be screwed slowly, and bit by bit until there's nothing left. A blind man could see that. Equally, Scottish football will continue to become so polarised that it will be unsustainable. My suggestion takes the heat off, while providing the solution that most fans want - ie rid of us. It will the let the media concentrate on the good side of Scottish football, and how our game is on the rise. It will also emasculate any further or future attempts by the SPL to progressively "punish" us.

Many thanks for the post Frankie. This has sharpened my senses, and in particular the references to retribution, reputational damage and the Club to be proactive and take some unilateral action. Let's call them the three "rs" In my opinion it's now time for the Club to be proactive and take some unilateral action. I think we can all see that this situation will be ongoing, and will not stop with the first, second, third or further punishment. This will be a demeaning act of retribution, played out fully in the public arena, and with the intention of maximising advantage for the other SPL clubs while maximising reputational damage for the Rangers. I hope everyone can see that it isn't going to end soon, and will quite possibly continue ad infinitum. Apart from the reputional damage to the Club, this is destroying Scottish football. No one else apart from us can apparently see this. Am I wrong? And so, the proactive unilateral action. In suggesting this, I find inspiration from a surprising direction, which is a quote from Lawel on another thread: â??Our guiding principle is that we will do what is in the best interests of Celtic Football Club and our supporters, consistent with upholding the interests and reputation of Scottish football. I can also give assurance that we will communicate further and directly with supporters at the appropriate time.â? Thursday, May 10 To this end, I would suggest that we withdraw our application for the SPL, and apply to join SPL 3. I believe it would satisfy the majority of Scottish fans' blood lust, it would silence the media and it would allow us to slowly build again - out of the limelight - and build a repution that once again follows the principles on which the Rangers were founded. The third "r" - rehabiltation.

I think there will be enough chairmen who see this as their big chance to change the voting structure. They will see this as a long term gain financially. It's their once in a lifetime chance.

Wouldn't be surprised if there's new ones being signed as we write.

Do we really think it will be a mere 10 points? I for one don't think so. There's a lot more mileage in the whole affair yet, but I'm buggered if I want a crippled Gers in the SPL, even moreso if we have a financial penaly on top of that. I do think that with Wattie in charge we would be dealy with better. Green is pretty abrasive. Wattie is well respected throughout Scotland, and he seems to be able to get his point over in a respectable manner.

The power lies in the hands of the fans. Fan groups should have one final meeting with Green and explain the position. Then ignore him. All season ticket holders should not renew. We've nothing to lose now, and the Wattie thing is right for the Club. We just know it. If it means a season out, then so be it. Green will just look like a fool and lose money. No fan in their right mind should support Rangers while he still thinks that he will win and run the Club. If it means Div 3 and start with nothing then so be it. The end result will be happiness. It'll be a long road - but with a happy ending. Green out. Wattie in. The £20m is a negotiating position. That's all.

He's a Yorkshireman. From past experience they are extremely hard nosed when it comes to brass. However, everything is for sale. At the right price.

Viagra for Bears, GA?

No sanctions. They either want us or they don't. Is anyone actually saying we haven't been punished enough? On second thoughts, yes, there's probably a lot. What do they want, these brave enlightened Scots souls? Hanging, drawing, quartering and then some? It's more like a Roman thing. Feed them to the lions. Crucify them. I would rather stay in the 3rd division forever than pander to this nonsense. At least we'd get more clarity.

But I would like to think that if the Rangers minded players leave, they will do so in such a way that the Club - ie the fans - will get some kind of return.

Division 3 then. Within a couple of years, half the clubs in the SPL will either be bust or semi-pro.

I don't actually think they want it to disappear. I think the majority of them want to steal a large part of it for their own Club. Now isn't that tragic?