buster.

Sometimes I think that the foundations to what is a large empire are weaker than many think and that tanks would be an unrequired overspend.

An important step along the way to what DK said he was looking to do in a statement in October of last year. From October 27th 2015 http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/statement-by-dave-king/ "Sports Direct continues to litigate with the Club in an attempt to enforce its wishes and demands. This seems based on the simple logic that Sports Direct can outspend the Club in legal fees and thereby deal with the Club as it pleases. I assure supporters that the Club will not be cowed by this threat and the recent lack of communication (as a result of the gagging order) belies the level of robustness with which the Club’s interest has been and will be protected. Furthermore, I have sent letters to Sports Direct in my capacity as a director of Rangers Retail Limited taking them to task for poor business practices and corporate governance failures. The Club believed that it was entering into a joint venture with a large public company that would behave as a partner should and would conduct its business affairs in an appropriate fashion. In my 40 years of business, I cannot recollect having dealt with a public company that is run more like a wholly owned family business and appears unconcerned with other stakeholders – partners or otherwise. It remains my intention to ensure that Sports Direct is legally and financially held accountable for its failures."

Encouraging sign that helps show the limited effect that this particular reincarnated Celtic-Minded vehicle is actually having. Just been on RM and I see that The Lawman has been debating on the SFM blog. Questionable approach IMO given that he would never change the minds of it's members on the issue but would help draw attention to the confrontational question at a time when they are desperate for that attention amongst what they see as 'potential ST boycotters'. As it stands the Celtic supporters that are trying to convince the world about resolution 12 can't even convince their own club. Many of the Celtic support aren't buying or renewing ST's but it is more to do with football issues and if they are happy with the managerial appointment they'll mostly sign-up. The Res.12 group are disingenuously claiming that slow ST uptake is down to their crusade.

Young players on loan deals are often more miss than hit for various reasons. I'm glad we've managed to sign Rossiter as our own player and we stand to benefit on the pitch and eventually the balance sheet if things go well. I think it helps focus the player and his responsibilities.

Having read the RTC site of occasion I very much doubt that Spiers is the person behind the moniker indicated. If you go beyond the individuals, there is no doubt that at the time the blog was successful in terms of becoming part of the overall narrative and served to be a rallying point for the Celtic-Minded and new friends. The focus for the blog changed in the New Year of 2012 and it's purpose developed into an online vehicle to push for fans of all clubs (except Rangers) to jump on a bandwagon of sporting integrity and push their own clubs to vote Rangers out. It wasn't the only place the call came from but IIRC it was the first place to instigate it. The blog became a successful vehicle in it's secondary aim and the individual RTC who was very much at the centre of it up until the beginning of 2012 seemed to step back and allow it to be used for another particular purpose. I mention this because the blog that was born from the RTC was The Scottish Football Monitor which is a rebranded but similar vehicle that is used to push an anti-Rangers line and encourage fans of all other clubs to jump on their bandwagon. Presently this is the support for 'Resolution 12' and once again it's about focusing on fans and encouraging them to threaten their own clubs with boycotts if they don't take action regards issues connected with res.12. Re-branding it the Scottish Football Monitor is about trying to develop into an effective 'pressure group' of sorts within Scottish football that pushes 'Celtic-Minded' politics but supposedly speaking for all colours within Scottish Football. They have recognised the increasing importance of social media, seen the success of the RTC (re.bandwagon) and are trying to develop. However, they struggle for credibility and coverage because they are too easily recognisable as being something that isn't consistent with their claims. ie. it's a Celtic-Minded site with mostly CM politics, subject matter and heavy slant.

Some of the best 'serious discussion' is funny.

For yourself ok but generally speaking that doesn't ring true because it has drove many of our fanbase to a reciprocal feeling that presently goes beyond what could have been considered as normal levels of hatred. The 'building bridges' idea was never going to be about making friends with rival fans. That won't happen, you may aswell ask the USA to broker the peace between Israel and Palestine in a fair and even handed way. It'd be about other 3rd parties and would probably take time.

The enviroment in which we ply our trade is very real and the directors of the club have a very real responsibility to shareholders to ensure they do their best to protect and grow our business within that enviroment and any others that they seek to take us. This means that where possible there has to be a considered effort to create a careful and constructive positive balance in relevant relationships with 3rd parties, whether governing bodies, other clubs, media organisations etc. If some of these efforts fail then so be it.

Maybe but I'd have thought all finance regards a squad rebuild would be channelled towards getting the best quality possible 20 or so players together so as to give us the best chance at competing 16/17........ .....and that any decisions like that will only be taken further down the line in August. Giving players the opportunity to stake their claim. We should have a better idea when pre-season starts and we can see how the squad is shaping up.

Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score, 11/10............(70% of pot) Over 4.5 goals, 5/1...........................................................(20% of pot) Hibs HT/Rangers FT, 22/1..............................................(10% of pot)

Matt Crooks has already joined..so IF Barton was to sign then I very much doubt we'd be dedicating any more serious money to this position.

The political atmosphere within the Scottish game is difficult with pressure groups (eg. SFM website, Res.12) pushing for real measures to be taken against Rangers and encouraging a general attitude of alienation towards our club from all other fans. What is being pushed for is similar to 2012 and a threat amongst supporters not to buy ST's so as to put pressure on the respective boardrooms at their clubs. Within our own club you also have a difficult dynamic with many of the support not at all interested and often hostile to any concilatory noises coming from Rangers towards anything else to do with Scottish football, including other clubs, governing bodies, MSM etc. The hope will be that once next season gets underway it'll be business 'as normal' when it settles down after some initial grudge games / ST's are renewed / other moments ..........that work some of the bad feeling out of the system. So until some more time has passed I doubt much will change. But I don't think it constructive to maintain a 'cold-war' footing with all and sundry for very long and efforts will need to be made on our behalf to break some ice and remove some of the fuel that keeps the Celtic-Minded from aggitating and recruiting other fans into their Rangers hating cabal. The time to make such moves are when the team are being successful. If on the field we can change and become a team that other 3rd parties will note for an exciting brand of football and want to follow then it would make sense to become a club that easily attracts the neutral rather than making it easy for the extensive network of Celtic-Minded aggitators to push their calculated and often co-ordinated poison.

1. 2015/16 isn't yet finished 2. No Speculation doesn't mean it isn't happening

The difference Europe would make is that MW has already stated the need for '1 or 2 more' if we were to qualify. Perhaps players with experience such as some linked these past few days. However qualifying for Europe may actually mean we play the same number of or less games because we wouldn't play the 4 LC group games. We'd be unseeded in the first Euro qualifier and we'd have quite a few new players to bed-in quickly so there would be no guarrantee of progress.

This is in some ways would be a similar type of target to that of the old days. In fact I'm sure we were previously linked with him. It'd be fair to say that the success-rate for this type of signing was poor with a lot of money being wasted but at the sametime there were some that proved to be excellent business. Hopefully the more professional looking football operation will mean we get a lot more right than we get wrong.

Mibbes aye mibbes naw.........we can predict this and that but we won't know until Conrad Logans Maw starts singing.

I said the same prior to the semi-final but we did 'ok' ! Ironically I think Hibs will ask more questions of us than Celtic did.

With a return to the heady and sometimes bizarre days of abundant transfer speculation I'd almost forgot about the SC Final !!! McKay, Waghorn and Miller is an excellent front three to start and IMO we'd only miss Forrester as a decent option from the bench. That said, you could argue that against Dundee our football was better, quicker and more incisive with HF in and MW sat in the stand. Midfield is where Hibs can be fairly strong and this is where they'll be looking to dominate. We'll miss Ball but we've had three weeks to work on how the midfield will shape up. Tend to think that Hibs will be up for it and physical tiredness won't come into it. In 4 of the 5 matches against Hibs, they have scored the first goal early into the game Stanton, 14mins Cummings 11 Cummings 23 Cummings 5 Twice we came back to win the game 2-6 and 2-4. If Hibs are going to tire it'll be mentally and we don't want to let them get ahead this time. Without Ball it'll be difficult to keep it tight so you'd expect another game with at least three goals in it, probably more. I think it will be a cracker of a football match and it's there for who takes their chances and get it right on the day.

Taking into account the young lad from Liverpool and it is plain that he fully trusts his staff (McParland), which is healthy and shows that personel are hired with an eye to adding real value.

Last season Barton was voted as best player in a team that earned direct promotion to the EPL, so regardless of character the player comes with recent pedigree. In Frank McParland we have a man who knows Barton and probably helped bring him in at Burnley and watched the player be successful.

Friday was a 19 year old scouser and now Saturday has a 33 year old scouser knocking at the door. For a number of reasons can't say I'm too keen on Barton but the present football operations success rate re. signings makes you have doubts about your own doubts.

Less than 9,500 fans at the three games ( @ Kilmarnock, ICT and Partick) Killie lost 2-4 in front of 2,700 If they lose the play-offs they may not be in the top tier for a long time.

It'll be worse on the M8 ! --------------- I'll probably be a long way away in front of a computer.

It was more the revolting players at Celtic !

The day I take as read claims from The Daily Mail will be a cold one in hell. That said, we'll have had to offer a rounded package that was attractive to the lad and I doubt he'll be on peanuts but would hope that the more substantial financial rewards are tied in with performance and possibly a percentage of any profit made on him.