ian1964

"It requires the need to start at school level and look at education.'' OOPS!!!!, slip of the tongue there Regan??????

Keep us updated Zappa;)

We, the Union Bears would today like to announce that as of the beginning of next season we will be relocating to BF5 to stand alongside The Blue Order. Both groups will keep their separate identity but will continue to create as much colour and noise in Ibrox as we possibly can. We are looking to build on the great atmosphere we have helped create over the past season or two together and the only serious option we see to achieve this is to move into the Broomloan stand and allow the two groups to stand together. We have had some good times and successful, creative displays in CR1 over the past 4 seasons and will be sad to leave, but at the same time we are looking to build for the future and we would urge any like-minded fans to join us in BF5 next season to help to support The Rangers in the way we all love. To stand together, sing, bounce and chant for 90 minutes every other Saturday and encourage the team on to victory. If you would like to enquire about moving to the new joint section next season please go through The Blue Order website. This is so all questions and transfers are kept all together in the same inbox and dealt with by the same person. Thanks, Union Bears No Surrender! Sorry,I should've said I lifted this from another site,I'm not in the UB.

It is the Ã?£18million question, or should that be Ã?£33m or even Ã?£50m? The huge discrepancy over the sums involved acts as a telling indication of the lack of specifics in the public domain over the bid for Rangers Football Club. The Ã?£18m pertains to a “guesstimate” of Rangers’ debt, the Ã?£33m is the price put on Craig Whyte’s takeover bid and the Ã?£50m is the feared cost if the club loses its battle with the tax authorities. The sums are, of course, inexact. The certainty is that the rumbling noises from both the Lloyds Banking Group and from sources close to Whyte are signalling the endgame in the Scottish businessman’s bid for the club. But will Whyte walk away disgruntled or disillusioned this week? Or will there be a concrete offer for the shares? Whyte has spent four months and hundreds of thousands of pounds on his move to take over 75% of Sir David Murray’s shareholding, with Andrew Ellis, a property developer, becoming a 25% partner. Yet the outcome is no clearer, with sources close to Whyte and to the Lloyds Banking Group unable to state definitively how close the deal may be to fruition. There have been reports that a Ã?£1m exit fee demanded by Lloyds for early resolution of the debt is a stumbling block. There have also been reports of the size of the club’s potential tax bill scaring off Whyte and any other prospective buyers. Both these assertions were denied today. SportTimes spoke to sources close to the principals in the takeover in an effort to determine both the issues and the chances of success of the bid. How close is a deal? The Whyte camp have said agreement has been reached with Murray and, therefore, no problems are envisioned with the Rangers board. Lloyds Banking Group insist no direct contact has been made between them and Whyte, though discussions have been held with members of his team. Whyte is said to be still “very, very positive” that a deal can be concluded. He will not put a timescale on the talks but, after his months of effort, he is in no mood to walk away. Lloyds also say they are keen to conclude any deal for the benefit of the club. So what is holding a deal up? No formal offer as yet for the shares. This would have to be announced to the Plus stock market so, by its very nature, events could move suddenly. But what about the redemption fee that is said to be stalling the deal? A bank source said reports that a Ã?£1m fee, or indeed any redemption or exit fee, was being demanded were “without foundation”. One banking source said: “This is not like a mortgage when, if you pay it back early, the lender is due a fee. The bank would just be glad to have the debt paid back without asking for a charge.” Sources close to Whyte are “surprised” at this statement. The truth is the money that has proved to be the stumbling block is the cash shortfall supplied by Rangers hedging the terms of the loan to a high Libor rate, that is the rate at which banks lend money to each other. That rate has slumped, leaving the club with a shortfall. The bank insists this is now part of the debt. How serious is Whyte as a buyer? Serious enough that he has devoted four months of his time to assembling an offer and dealing with issues that have not become any less complex with the passing of time. The bank has said they have had no direct discussions with Whyte but this means little. The bank has a close relationship with Murray, the other principal in the deal. Sceptics have screamed “show me the money” at Whyte, but his viability as a buyer can only be assessed if, and when, he makes a formal offer. His associates were attesting with some justification that Whyte’s tenacity in persisting through due diligence and tough negotiations was testimony to his will. The money, they say, is there, even if the deal is not yet finalised. What is the state of play on the debt and why have Rangers’ financial figures been delayed? The Rangers debt has been reduced dramatically. The bank knows this as the figures have been seen by the Ibrox board. The club have until Thursday to release their half-yearly figures; expect very good figures. This is a double-edged sword for the board. The substantial slashing of the debt will encourage some supporters to insist that investment is made in the team for next season, with an increased transfer budget and an improved provision for salaries. However, the board knows this will not be allowed by the bank. The bank’s view is believed to be that more money should not be loaned to an institution that owes money in loans. What about other concerns? Whyte has an appreciation of what is needed. He has spoken to Walter Smith about the requirements of a squad where five players are on loan and could leave in the summer. With the retiral of captain David Weir and contracts nearing an end on others, there is an obvious need for both a viable budget and early negotiations. The Whyte camp has made a provision for expenditure on players and is also aware of the work that needs to be done at Ibrox. Estimates for this vary between Ã?£5m to Ã?£12m. However, the stadium is seen as an upgrading project that could be undertaken over a period of years. What about the tax burden? This is the great unknown. Whyte initially believed negotiations would have been completed after a resolution in the case between HMRC and Rangers. The case now looks likely to be heard next month, with a judgment unlikely before July or August. Whyte’s position seems to be that the matter is an issue for the incumbent ownership. It would certainly be extraordinary for someone to buy any company with an unknown potential debt that could be in the tens of millions. What is the tax row about and what are the chances of Rangers facing a hefty bill? It concerns an Employee Benefits Trust that began at Rangers in 2001. The annual reports show that a total of Ã?£47m was contributed by the club to this fund to recompense players. If found liable, Rangers could face a heavy bill, the precise amount varies according to which accountant one consults. A ballpark figure of Ã?£30m for lost tax and lost interest has been touted. There could also be a “punitive” addition by the tribunal. However, Rangers are defending the charges robustly and are optimistic of victory. So are the tax authorities. Is there any quick resolution to the tax wrangle? There could be a negotiated settlement. This is unlikely. It would take Rangers to concede, but the club proclaim innocence. It would also require the tax authorities to adopt a conciliatory attitude. The indications are that the Inland Revenue is not about to take a step back on this. Is there a Doomsday Scenario? Yes. If Whyte walks away and Rangers are hit with a huge tax bill plus fine, then the club will be in the sort of trouble that makes this week’s wrangling look like a spot of local difficulty. As one financier said: “There is not a queue standing behind Whyte. He is the only game in town at the moment and, if he goes, then the alarm bells will ring. “Administration would be more than just a scary word.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/q-a-what-the-fans-want-to-know-about-craig-whyte-s-rangers-takeover-bid-1.1093372

CRAIG WHYTE remains “very, very optimistic” that his Ã?£33m takeover bid for Rangers will prove successful. Sources close to the Scottish businessman also insisted last night that Whyte had set no deadline on completion of the deal. Reports have suggested that Whyte was becoming frustrated at the stance of Lloyds Banking Group, but the businessman has invested “four months of hard work and hundreds of thousands of pounds”, according to a source close to the talks, and is in no mood to walk away. This message came as the Lloyds Banking Group hit back at claims that it was the obstacle to a speedy resolution to the takeover saga that began in November last year. Reports yesterday said Lloyds was demanding an “exit” payment if Rangers paid off their debt early as part of a Whyte takeover. A bank statement said last night: “Any potential takeover is a matter for Rangers Football Club and its shareholders. Suggestions that Lloyds Banking Group is blocking a deal to acquire the club are baseless and without foundation. “We understand the concerns of Rangers supporters, given recent media speculation. Lloyds Banking Group recognises the importance of Rangers FC to its supporters, shareholders and to the wider football industry in Scotland. We are committed to supporting the board of Rangers FC in their plan to ensure the financial stability of the club.” It is understood that the money wanted by Lloyds is not an exit payment or early repayment sum but part of the loan. Rangers hedged their repayments by tying them to the Libor rate, which is the rate that banks lend money to each other. This rate has slumped since the agreement was brokered, leaving the club with a shortfall believed to be Ã?£1m. Lloyds believes this is an integral part of the debt. A banking source told Herald Sport last night that it was “completely false” to suggest an exit, or early repayment, contingency existed. “The bank just wants Rangers to clear its debt,” he said. “Why would we want to charge them Ã?£1m for that? This is not the same case as demanding a fee for repayment of a mortgage. It is complete nonsense.” Another source said the hedging of such a loan rate was normal practice and the shortfall could be considered part of the overall debt. This should not prove to be an insurmountable obstacle to Whyte’s Ã?£33m takeover bid whereby he would buy 75% of Sir David Murray’s shareholding, with Andrew Ellis, a property developer, taking a 25% stake. The deal would presumably be franked by the Rangers board, leaving it to be accepted by Lloyds. The next step for Whyte would be to issue a formal offer for Rangers shares and the Plus stock exchange would have to be informed. The Whyte camp were last night quietly determined to proceed with the deal. “We just want to get this deal over the line,” said one insider. “There is no pressure to do this quickly. We want to do it right.” The next move could be a formal offer for shares, but no one last night would stake any money on when this would happen. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/lloyds-refutes-exit-payment-claim-as-optimistic-whyte-edges-closer-to-ibrox-1.1093166

THE Old Firm could be set to clash on a Friday or Monday lunchtime in the crucial final derby of the season at Ibrox. Sky Sports are due to screen a live game from the SPL on both Easter Friday and the Monday May bank holiday. Both matches are scheduled for noon kick-offs and Celtic's visit to their bitter rivals could yet be pencilled in for either slot when the post-split fixtures are announced. The police are against the idea of Old Firm games taking place on bank holiday weekends following the trouble which marred Rangers' league clincher at Celtic Park in 1999. That game took place on May 2 - one of the proposed dates for this year's fixture. However, the police might have to make an exception this season as SPL chiefs are also keen to minimise the chance of the title being decided in the Ibrox showdown. The first two rounds of fixtures after the split are both holiday weekends and pushing the derby back any further would risk the championship being on the line when the Old Firm meet. That is sure to leave the SPL and the police with a huge dilemma, with Friday April 22 and Monday May 2 big possibilities as dates for the crunch game. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/03/29/celtic-and-rangers-set-for-easter-bank-holiday-spl-title-showdown-86908-23023366/

Upset at Rangers beating the MOPES in the cup final http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wxh6Cx6W0o

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/03/lloyds-on-run.html

It all is a bit bizzare,why would Whyte lend Ellis a 25% stake????,if that is true,I can't work that one out

The Rangers Supporters Trust have called on Lloyds Bank to make clear their plans as Craig Whyte's takeover bid hangs in the balance. The �£33million deal will see the Scottish tycoon take over 75% of Sir David Murray's shareholding, with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis becoming a 25% partner. However, it is understood the bank's desire for an 'exit payment' of more than �£1m is just one of the key stumbling blocks and patience is fast running out. Whyte has targeted Thursday for the deal to be concluded by which time Rangers supporters are expected to be told the club's debt has been slashed to around �£21m from the �£27.1m figure announced in June. RST chairman Stephen Smith said, in these fraught circumstances, the Light Blues fans deserve to be informed of Lloyds' position. "Lloyds Bank can be a convenient whipping boy," Smith said. "It is very easy to paint them as the bad guy in this situation and there are some who may feel excuses are being put in place for the deal not happening. "However, our main concern is with the way that the bank is treating Rangers "We are living in extraordinary financial circumstances where Lloyds Bank have been kept afloat by the taxpayer. "Yet it appears they are refusing to accept a deal which will give them all their money back. "It just doesn't make sense. "If anything, it appears that the bank is trying to devalue the club. "So we would like Lloyds to tell us about their strategy. "We are not talking about breaching commercial confidences, or asking them to come out with figures and percentages. "We want to know their plans for the club and for them to confirm that they are operating normal commercial arrangements with a company the size of Rangers with the turnover of �£50m plus. "They should be able to do that but we have asked on a number of occasions and have been met with a wall of silence. "But as Rangers fans and taxpayers, we are surely entitled to know what's going on. "Anything else is not acceptable in the 21st century." Smith admits the rank and file of the Rangers support have grown tired of the takeover saga. "People are weary with it all," he said. "It has been dragging on for around nine months. "There have been various deadlines which come and gone, the first being in December when there was talk of Walter Smith getting money for the January transfer window, with another being in February. "But meanwhile, it seems the bank's restriction have been detrimental to our abilities on the pitch. "We have had to go with five loan players in our squad, while fighting in all three domestic competitions and in Europe. "Now we are down to one competition, the title race, and that might come down to fine margins. "And if Rangers lose out then Rangers fans will not forgive the bank." No one from Lloyds was available for comment. http://www.teamtalk.com/rangers/6839240/Supporters-chief-wants-answers

Maybe somebody should email it to him:twisted:

I would be surprised if Stewart Regan didnââ?¬â?¢t know exactly what he was doing when he commented on the happenings of the League Cup final; Iââ?¬â?¢m sure he had reasons for doing it that way; one would be that he didnââ?¬â?¢t want to make an enemy of the establishment team in Scotland. He has called a summit this Wednesday at Hampden and invited along the clubs; the police; and the politicians; he has failed to invite the people who have made it necessary to have the summit in the first place; the most poisonous football supports in Europe. I have a certain sympathy with Mr Regan; he is in the unenviable situation of being surrounded by bigoted oafs like George Peat; he also has in the office another clown; Billy Singh of Show Racism the Red Card; an organisation that took a full year to admit that the ââ?¬Å?Famine Songââ?¬Â was racist; he just happens to be a Rangers supporter; surprise; surprise. Reganââ?¬â?¢s statement is classic they are two sides of the same coin; ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m conscious that it (sectarian chanting) is becoming more of an issue in recent times; Iââ?¬â?¢ve been told its gathering momentum and itââ?¬â?¢s more prevalent now than it was this time last year. Now why would that be Mr Regan? Would it because all the threats of closed door matches and point deduction were a bluff; the SFA; and indeed UEFA have failed miserably in that respect. He also talks of political songs and sectarian songs; I donââ?¬â?¢t think you would need a degree to define the songs which fall into which category; but I think I can say without fear of contradiction; No Pope of Rome; the Famine Song; and being up to your knees in Fenian Blood certainly are not political songs. The media have completely brushed this issue under the carpet; they know for an absolute fact who is responsible; and therefore who need to be punished; but apart from Graham Spiers and George Galloway; nobody has come out and said who is to blame; guys like Gordon Waddell didnââ?¬â?¢t even mention it in his column yesterday; and today in the Daily Mail John Greechan is calling for the person who threw the banana at Neymar to be tracked down and banned forever; why isnââ?¬â?¢t he calling for 50,000 bigots to be banned forever? So what will happen on Wednesday at the summit? People like justice minister Mac Askill and assistant chief constable Corrigan have actually backed themselves into a corner with their comments after the last match; so how do they now come out and say there is a problem? Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell played a blinder in the last summit; he came out and applauded our fans for their positive and inspiring support; what did Marin Bain say about his fans? Zilch; his silence told its own story. Finally let me say this; I think the Celtic fans need to stop contributing to the media; not only by not purchasing their rags; but also by not appearing on their radio shows; we never get a balanced report; all these people are doing is using the Celtic fans to stir up controversy and therefore boost their listening figures; just ask yourself this; when was the last time Keevens or Traynor stood up for Celtic? Or maybe more important; when was the last time any of the two of them said anything disrespectful of Walter or his team? Joe O'Rourke Administrator http://www.celticsupporterassoc.co.uk/showthread.php?t=867&p=4164#post4164

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/03/sfa-decision-was-brazil-nuts.html

I never seen the Scotland game so can't comment,but he has been turning in MOTM performances all season in the EPL,he must be doing something right

Suppose they can say they were playing in Europe long after Rangers this season:whistle:

Mar 28 2011 By Scott McDermott SPANISH ref Iturralde Gonzalez last night accused Neil Lennon of being disrespectful - but will not report the Celtic manager to the SFA. Lennon was sent to the stand just 33 minutes into the goalless friendly against Athletic Bilbao after a foul-mouthed rant at the whistler on Saturday night. The Hoops gaffer claims that Gonzalez over-reacted by giving him his marching orders but the ref insists he had no option but to dish out a red card. But Record Sport understands the incident won't be reported to the Spanish Football Federation, which should see Lennon escape more punishment from the SFA. Gonzalez said: "It's necessary to respect the rules of football, even in a friendly match. The Celtic coach was protesting from the first minute. "I'm a calm person and try to be supportive to players and coaches. But Lennon was constantly in discussion with the fourth official and that is not acceptable. It's important to respect the referee in all matches, even friendlies." It is understood Lennon asked to speak to the official after the match but his request was rejected by Gonzalez.

Crucial week for Gers takeover Sun, 27 Mar 21:32:45 2011 Craig Whyte's protracted bid to take over Rangers enters a critical stage in the coming week with Lloyds Bank believed to be the main stumbling block to the deal being concluded. The �£33million bid will see the Scottish tycoon take over 75% of Sir David Murray's shareholding, with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis becoming a 25% partner. However, Press Association Sport understands that the bank's desire for an 'exit payment' of more than �£1million is one of the key stumbling blocks. Moreover, the severity of the cuts that the bank want to impose on the club for the start of next season is "unsustainable", according to a source close to the deal.Those issues are sure to anger the Light Blues' supporters, who are expected to be told this week when figures are released that the club's debt has been slashed to around �£21million from the �£27.1million figure announced in June. Talks will continue this week but Whyte is desperate for the deal to be done by Thursday, with the following day, April 1, being ruled out. London-based Whyte appeared to be on course to complete a buyout when he reached an agreement in principle with majority shareholder Murray in early December, but various reported deadlines have come and gone. Whyte had confirmed to the Stock Exchange in November he was considering making an offer for Rangers and was in talks with Murray International Holdings. He then held talks with Murray and Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston last year but there is real frustration in the Whyte camp that the deal is still not done. The takeover plans include vows to wipe out the debt and invest �£25million in the team over a five-year period. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/27032011/63/crucial-week-gers-takeover.html

Borrowed from another forum. Petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tbs2011/

0-0.........................

Manchester United are favourites to win the �£8million race for Blackpoolâ��s sought-after midfielder Charlie Adam, who plays for Scotland against Brazil at the Emirates on Sunday. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bided his time for 25-year-old Adam, who was the subject of a bidding war between Tottenham and Liverpool in the last transfer window. But after discussions with Walter Smith - Adamâ��s former boss at Rangers - Ferguson will enter the race for the player as he seeks a long-term successor to Paul Scholes. Blackpool will not stand in his way of moving at the end of the season and Adam is believed to find the allure of Champions League football a huge incentive, even if he will not be guaranteed a regular starting place. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1370336/Manchester-United-set-make-8m-summer-Blackpool-star-Charlie-Adam.html#ixzz1Hngbs3mV

VLADIMIR WEISS reckons Walter Smith will win the SPL title in his final campaign - and revealed he wants to stay on to help Ally McCoist make it four in a row. Weiss is on a season-long loan from Manchester City and is not sure what the future holds for him. City may decide to make him part of their 25-man squad next season but it's more likely they will sell him or farm him out again. The Slovakia winger will have no say in what the Eastlands club decide to do. His wish would be to earn a chance in the City top team but, if not, his next choice would be to return to Ibrox. That decision will not be made until July and until then he will concentrate on helping Smith's men build on last weekend's Cooperative Insurance Cup success to clinch another title. Weiss came on as a sub in that final win against Celtic and played his part by setting up Nikica Jelavic's winner. He said: "I was happy to be involved. I was on the bench because of an injury but was glad to play my part in the win. "We only have the league to focus on. We have no other distractions and it is a nice position to be in that if we win all our games we will win the league. "Until last weekend, all talk was that Celtic were going to win the Treble - but we've claimed one trophy and can feel more confident now. "I have to speak with Manchester City about their plans. If they say I can go on loan again, and if Rangers want me, then I'd be happy to stay. "Ally has been terrific and has helped me along. He is the right man to take over from Walter and will have success on his own in the next few years." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/03/27/i-d-love-to-stay-and-help-ally-mccoist-be-successful-rangers-boss-says-vladimir-weiss-86908-23019768/

Published Date: 27 March 2011 By Tom English and Martyn McLaughlin THE head of the Scottish Football Association has warned that Old Firm games may have to be played behind closed doors if sectarian chanting continues to mar fixtures. In an interview with Scotland on Sunday, Stewart Regan, the SFA's chief executive, said that while no-one in the game wanted to see fans prevented from attending the most high-profile matches in the Scottish club calendar, such a "doomsday scenario"can't be ruled out. The controversial step has been proposed by police officials, but Regan is the most senior figure in the Scottish sport to accept it is an option. Supporters groups have claimed any move to keep fans out of Rangers and Celtic ties would "destroy Scottish football". But Regan conceded it could be the "ultimate sanction" if all else failed. He said: "People will be honest and I'm sure there will be some soul-searching by us all about what can be done, because I'm conscious that it (sectarian chanting] is becoming more of an issue in recent times. I've been told that it's gathering momentum and it's more prevalent now than it was this time last year. "I'm determined to do our bit because I don't want it to taint Scottish football and I don't want us to be accused of tolerating it. The ultimate sanction has to be the doomsday scenario of matches being played behind closed doors." In the aftermath of a fiery Scottish Cup fifth-round replay earlier this month, which led to a confrontation between Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist and Celtic coach Neil Lennon, and saw three Rangers players red-carded, police warned that fans could be shut out of games. Les Gray, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said the "madness cannot go on" and called for the derby to be played behind closed doors. But Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, described Old Firm ties as the "lifeblood" of the Scottish game and warned that banning fans would "more or less destroy Scottish football". However, Regan's decision to contemplate the same step as Gray is likely to cause wider ripples within sporting and political circles, given his standing at the SFA and the fact he is a member of the Joint Action Group convened by the Scottish Government in the wake of a summit held to discuss disorder surrounding Old Firm games. Recent fixtures have spurred debate over the conduct of players, officials and fans, but attention returned to sectarian chanting after last Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup Final. Although Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, described the match as a "great advert for Scottish football", there have been complaints about Rangers supporters singing sectarian songs at Hampden. The Catholic Church in Scotland said yesterday it intends to study footage of the game to provide evidence to Strathclyde Police of Rangers fans singing anti-Catholic songs, and questioned whether MacAskill's summary of the fixture was "appropriate". Regan, who grew up in north-east England, said he was not familiar with the alleged offensive chants. He said: "I would have needed somebody to tell me it is one of those unacceptable songs." But he said he would raise the issue with club officials, the government and police at the next Joint Action Group meeting on Wednesday. "We need to understand the extent to which our powers can be applied," he added. "Uefa has implemented matches behind closed doors. "At this stage, we need to discuss and get clarity as to what we can do." http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/SFA-chief-ready-to-close.6741076.jp?articlepage=2

TWAT of a man http://www.snspix.com/pictures_4593728/4593728.html

Ok,it's the truth as he sees it,he's being honest:)