buster.

We need to bring through enough quality so as 5 or 6 of the first team regular starters have come through our own youth development. It might take a couple of years but we have to start now.

In the immediadte years prior to 2012 we had Donald Muir (Lloyds rep) placed on the board to assist in controlling our finances, a few months after Sir Duped left the hands on role, (August 2009). Prior to that, we had for many years been spending more than we earned in revenue. Sir Duped would look for other ways of trying to balance outgoings with incoming, whether it be investors or creativity around the tax bill. However, the salient point being generally speaking, we struggled to earn enough money to pay for how the club was run and this goes back a fair way. The support got used to a diet of big money transfers (and their wages) as a balm to soothe the occasional pain. We grew accustomed to the rumour mill being full of speculation around who would be the next name to come. Addiction is too strong a word but many missed it when it stopped. Our operating financial model back then was heavily flawed and not viable in the medium to long term. Walter did what Walter tended to do (win leagues) and Champions League Football/Finance helped us continue on. Three out of 4 years between 07/08 to 10/11, making the CL group stages. We spent to soothe the balm of losing to Kaunas in 2008 (before DMuir), with Walter putting together a team that would win the next two leagues. Then 2011/12 came and our financial chickens came home to roost. Post 2015 was a strategy of constructive losses that were paid for by director/investor soft loans turned into equity. That has finished. The point of the above is to say, we can't go back to how it was. That an eventual 70% limit of revenue (part of new FFP regs.) on spend (transfers, wages, agent fees, etc.) is going to force us (and many others) into a fairly radical rethink. The board have obviously been thinking about this for quite a while and are trying to up revenues and strengthen youth development. The latter being the only realistic way forward, IMO.

Lundstram

I said I didn't think it would happen. On the football side, the obvious possibility is further poor results change that.

Aye, communicate the cold hard reality (without the fine detail) and how we intend to reach stated objectives. Everyone in it together Ps. Civil conversations between you and I make me think there might even be hope for Ukraine/Russia.

Yes, football is an often unpredictable environment. Regards communication of 'changes', I see the AGM/WC break as an opportunity to take if not a completely new direction, a new road in the same general direction. We have to win a 2 horse race in which we are still a way behind financially. On top of which, they happen to have struck relative gold regards new manager/recruitment. Plan 56

The board need to decide on a viable strategy, who they want to be in charge and make a realistic call. Personally, I think the new FFP rules point toward our own version of the Ajax model. Parts of it are (at least partly) already in place, eg. Improvement in youth development, early stages of player trading model, commerce, etc. .... looking to improve .... It won't happen but I would be looking at around the AGM time / WC break to go with it. Ruthless, yes but we won't get to where we want to be, as it stands. Timescales are always difficult and we may have to go a step backwards, to actually get to where we need to.

An important part of this squad have in all seasons bar 55, shown themselves to be unable to keep together a consistent league season. When we got 55, we immediately handed the title back when we should have consolidated our position. They won't be for doing the same and we won't even get close.

Question for the board is simple. How do we regain League title (asap)?

It isn't so much that it is currently a "disaster". It's more about the direction we are going. I said a while back that this squad (as it stood) was getting stale, had several issues and it wasn't going to achieve much this season. The OF match brought that into harsh focus. We operate in a two horse race. That isn't hysteria in my book. It is rational thought after looking at what is going on. To simply take a more optimistic view is just as valid but I don't think it would be easy to justify.

Mention of the Ajax model should be accompanied by a mention of tacit approval by Ajax themselves, with the signing of Bassey. Currently an exception to the rule, we need to find different versions of Calvin Bassey on a relatively regular basis. Not easy but It is what good youth systems do.

The changing regulation allied to the environment we operate in may end up meaning it is the only way to go.

You never know, you have already got a High mark from the Low Countries this season.

Yes, I was meaning further down the line. However, we need to start producing players good enough to challenge for first team by the time they are 18.

Good Luck !

That depends on their level, the coaching and a manager who is prepared to trust them. From a strategic POV, it shows some foresight. The difficulty at a club like Rangers, is for under pressure managers putting them in. Perhaps, a clear and well communicated strategy could prepare the support in showing some patience. I fully realise how difficult that would be but with FFP, is there another way ? The Ajax model has been talked about for years. We need to stop talking and DO something similar.

Very possibly. But if things had been done differently, he would have left us in better shape. Building upon and freshening up a title winning side isn't rocket science. It is going to be more costly not to have done so.

Summer Transfer window 2022 might eventually be seen as very good. FFP is going to restrict our scope to buy our way out of trouble. The obvious route to go is predominantly youth. Just as well we have improved this side of the club. The signings like Ridvan will hopefully come good but I particularly focus on the 5 (?) youths signed within a couple of days of each other.

I'd agree that it would probably be unreasonable, costly and generally seen as kneejerk to axe GVB just now. On the other hand, speculative argument, but how long do you give something that is (or appears) destined to fail.

Feburary 2022 2 : Celtic 3 Rangers 0 17 : Dortmund 2 Rangers 4 20 : Dundee Utd 1 Rangers 1 24 : Rangers 2 Dortmund 2 27 : Rangers 2 Motherwell 2 Up and doon like a whore's knickers Lost a league (more or less) Famous result in Europe Can't see lightning striking twice in Europe Better win ALL domestic games

Re. GVB There is a poll on FF started at about 9pm last night (some time to reflect) Would you replace Gio ? YES : 756 (54.3%) NO : 637 (45.7%) Quite a good sample size. No immediate issue but it doesn't leave much margin for more backwards steps until the numbers start to get really bad.

Changing executive directors should always be a consideration. You see what can happen (eg. SPFL/Doncaster) if you don't. Gets too comfortable, doesn't deliver but gets high pay increases. Without knowing the fine detail around Robertson and what he delivers..... Like many, I feel we might benefit more with better/stronger leadership from a CEO type figure rather than MD. Downside, it may cost an extra 0.5M pa.

I'd very much agree with the better the devil you know line. They are the right people. It isn't easy. They could do it better.

If, but and maybe content warning !! Maybe another season, who knows....... He was always going South when a decent offer came up post league win. Just maybe, with the right recruitment he would have committed for another full season.

The board need to improve communications with the support. Given recent history, much of the support would understand or take it into consideration, if told that finances were still a major challenge and although strides had been made, we hadn't yet reached a completely secure place. What has happened is that in most communications that have touched upon finance or something connected, have been bullish messages of everything is fine and dandy. This creates a general impression that isn't quite realistic and false expectation at transfer windows. Example Message : We've sorted Sports Direct out, no problems anymore Reality : We have fcuked up against someone who knows what he is doing and it won't be inexpensive to find a way out of this Whilst a business obviously won't disclose too much detail, it shouldn't make a rod for it's own back either.