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.......for their silence over FIFA World Cup scandal in Qatar. JIM Murphy MP has called on the SFA to stand up and be counted amid more damaging revelations over bribes. THE SFA came under mounting pressure yesterday to end their silence over the Qatar World Cup scandal. Labour MP Jim Murphy called on Scottish football’s controlling body to stand up and be counted amid further damaging revelations over bribes. A leading investigator who exposed FIFA corruption also called for the SFA to make their position on Qatar clear. But SFA chief executive Stewart Regan refused to say anything when approached by a Sunday Mail reporter on Friday at his home in Glasgow’s West End. Regan would only say: “I’m just on my way out. Thanks very much.” The decision to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar has been embroiled in controversy over labour conditions for migrant workers and corruption. This year, the Sunday Mail exposed the abysmal conditions faced by men building the stadia and *infrastructure. And new evidence linking disgraced Qatari football official Mohamed bin Hammam to bribes have plunged the 2022 event further into crisis. Yesterday, Murphy urged the SFA to break their silence over the slave conditions in Qatar before FIFA’s annual congress in Brazil this week. The shadow international development secretary travelled to Qatar with the Sunday Mail in April to probe the working conditions of migrants. He said: “FIFA is engulfed in scandal. The time for real and decisive action is now. So many people, including UEFA president Michel Platini, the English FA, the British representative on the FIFA board and other football associations around the world have spoken up. “The SFA must now break their silence and stand up for what’s right. “The allegations of corruption must be fully investigated and, if found to be true, Qatar must be stripped of the World Cup immediately. “But FIFA must also seize this opportunity to force real change in Qatar and finally bring the industrial-scale abuse of migrant workers to an end. FIFA has two choices – change or rot from within.” Scots writer Andrew Jennings, who uncovered evidence about vote-rigging and bribery in his book Foul: The Secret World of FIFA, urged the organisation to put their house in order. He claims too many decisions are based on keeping FIFA delegates happy, rather than for the good of the game. He said: “You only have to look at the line-up for the 2014 World Cup to see that there just aren’t 32 great teams in the world. “Who would want to cross the road to watch Honduras, other than those with a Honduran passport? “The more teams you have in the World Cup, the more jollies for the officials. “Your team’s no good but Sepp Blatter looks after you by making sure you get a nice holiday in Brazil. You’ve got all these old guys in their declining years that don’t speak out but get a huge amount of money, World Cup tickets and first-class flights. “That’s the kind of men that Sepp Blatter approves of. “To get rid of him we need politicians and outside agencies like the UN and the European Parliament to get involved.” Jennings has been investigating FIFA for a decade and has been barred from Blatter’s press conferences since 2003. He has also researched and presented a string of Panorama exposés on the organisation including The Beautiful Bung, which probed bribery claims in 2006, and FIFA’s Dirty Secrets, which exposed alleged corruption among executive committee members. Last week, allegations emerged that former FIFA official bin Hammam *controlled a £3million slush fund which was used to buy the support of key *officials for the Qatar World Cup bid. This has led to renewed calls for FIFA to restart the bidding process. Even without the corruption allegations, there have been huge question marks over playing the World Cup in the Gulf state where summer temperatures can reach up to 50C. FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has admitted the Qatar World Cup will be switched to winter but Jennings says that would have a catastrophic financial effect on Scottish football. He added: “Poor old Qatar were trying to run a clean bid and the crooks of FIFA had their hands out. “Who wants to go to Qatar? The fans don’t want to go because you can’t get a beer. The players don’t want to go and the clubs don’t want to release them. “If you’ve just paid £10million for a fantastic pair of goal-scoring legs, you’re not going to risk them in the hot sands of Qatar. It’s time the Scottish FA and the other three home nations tell FIFA enough is enough.” Last week, documents were uncovered allegedly showing secret payments from Qatar’s top football official to influential figures. It was claimed the leaked papers revealed that disgraced bin Hammam had made *payments to football officials in return for votes for Qatar. UEFA president Platini, who initially supported the Qatar bid, now says the vote should be re-run and sanctions imposed if *corruption can be proved. FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has also said he would be in favour of re-running the vote for the 2022 tournament if the *allegations are proven. Yesterday, the day after we approached Regan, the SFA issued a brief statement on Qatar. They said: “We echo the comments of Jim Boyce. If any evidence of wrongdoing around the 2022 Qatar World Cup bid is proved, we would support a re-run of the bid process.” But Murphy said: “It’s not good enough for the SFA to meekly whisper a one-sentence comment. “The SFA seem to be one of the *quietest football organisations on the planet when it comes to the dreadful plight of World Cup *workers.” Meanwhile, angry Brazilians have launched an anti-FIFA graffiti campaign to protest at the cost of staging the World Cup. Powerful images – many showing hungry children – have been springing up all over venue cities. And the protests have the backing of World Cup legend Romario. Now a firebrand left-wing politician, he is fiercely critical of the staging of the tournament. He said: “There are far more important things that need improving in Brazil – like schools and hospitals – rather than staging the World Cup.” Brazilian police used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up violent protests just days before the start of the tournament Trouble broke out in the city of Sao Paulo where the opening game of the tournament will be played on Thursday. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/scotlands-football-chiefs-savaged-silence-3661362

LEWIS MACLEOD has been back in training for more than a month now and believes he’s on track to rejoin the first-team squad for the start of pre-season. The young Rangers midfielder, 19, hasn’t played since January because of an uncommon reaction to a common virus. There were fears over the youngster’s career and given the great strides he has made at Ibrox since breaking through, seeing it end prematurely would have been a huge setback. Thankfully Macleod is in good health again and is making progress as he goes through a rehabilitation programme with physio Stevie Walker. The teenager is currently on a break from that having put five weeks of hard graft in and he’s attending the NARSA convention in Toronto. Macleod took part in the Davie Cooper Memorial Golf Day yesterday and will meet fans again tonight at the Grand Banquet. A more relaxed figure than he was in the second half of 2013/14, the Scotland under-21 cap is delighted to be moving in the right direction once more. Macleod said: “I’ve been doing more of the same stuff I was doing in the first couple of weeks of training with Stevie and it’s going well. “I’ve been doing lots of running and weights and I’ve just been trying to get myself back to full fitness. “I’m still a wee bit off yet but come pre-season I’ll be ready to go and I’m looking forward to that. “I was always hoping to be there or thereabouts by the time the players came back for the start of pre-season. “With the way it’s going, I should be close to full fitness when they come back and all being well, I’ll be fighting fit and there will be no hiccups now. “It has been tough sitting on the sidelines sitting watching but now I’m back running, I feel a lot better about myself and it will be good to get back into it.” Macleod can’t wait for the forthcoming Championship title race as Rangers look for a third successive promotion which would take them back to the top flight. He has impressive in the previous two seasons but on both occasions he has had his campaign cut short. In 2012/13 he was sidelined by a knee injury before his health issues in recent months and he’s keen to get a full term under his belt this time around. Macleod added: “In the last two seasons, I’ve finished them with two pretty rubbish problems and I’m hoping this year is much easier sailing. “I want to go through the whole campaign without any serious injuries and I’m basically just starting again now. Hopefully I can do that and do it well. “I would love for this season to be more straightforward and if I can get a full campaign behind me I’ll be really happy.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7025-wheels-in-motion

by Andy McGowan | Contributor I don’t consider myself a brave man, nor am I a seeker or justice or truth like so many of my counterparts on other side of the Old Firm. But I can no longer stand by and watch the club I love be ruined by hate and bigotry. As a responsible law abiding Rangers fan who supports his club through thick and thin I feel it is my duty to expose the secret truths of Rangers Football Club in a bid to cleanse it forever of its toxic elements. Although this may be hard and shocking for some of you to read, I am going to lay bare the truth behind some of the songs, statements and style of Rangers. Let’s start with one you will all be familiar with but may be unaware of its secret meaning: We Are the People. It sounds harmless right? Wrong. "We are the People" of course refers to Unionist leader and first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, James Craig, who in 1921 declared that NI would be "a Protestant State for a Protestant People." He made this declaration after a conversation with Bill Struth, who of course had taken over as Rangers manager the previous year. A little known fact is that James Craig was a keen footballer before entering politics and almost became Bill Struth’s assistant at Ibrox. When the two friends met up in secret they often discussed their proud Catholic hating Protestant roots and had regular meetings of a secret club known as “We Are the Protestants” (WATP) preceded by many a secret handshake. Struth decided this was too contentious a name and We are the People was born and exists as an anti-Catholic masonic organisation run from within the corridors of Ibrox to this day. The Club logo fills us all with pride. The colours, the words, the lion – they all hold a special meaning to Rangers fans worldwide. But it also holds more sinister secrets you might not be aware of. It should also come as no surprise that the WATP Organisation were behind a plot named the “Ready to Destroy Ireland” movement of 1973, or simply, “Ready,” which is why it now appears on the club crest. Rangers new boy Nicky Clark this week declared “I'm ready for round two.” This was a sickening secret anti-Irish comment from Clark who was inducted into the WATP Organisation just six days earlier. Not only that, but the lion which stands so proudly on the badge that is printed on your child’s shirts and t-shirts every year, covering their now vile and twisted bigoted little hearts, is a nod to the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, and more specifically Henry II, who in 1171 took Dublin and accepted the fealty of the Irish kings and bishops and was known simply as The Red Lion in Ireland from then on. Some of our unacceptables you may be more aware of are found in the song book. Our love of the song “Penny Arcade” is again sadly attributed to religious hatred and due to the death of a Catholic man in Belfast in 1986 in an amusement arcade. I can’t confirm this but my source tells me Gazza may have been the main culprit. As many of you are aware the Beach boys hit “Sloop John B” has been taken on by Rangers fans as Carl Wilson and cousin Mike Love were fierce bigots and good Rangers men. The "Blue Sea of Ibrox" as we all know is about drowning Catholics in the Irish Sea, not at any specific time or anything; we just pure love doing that. Our traditional red and black socks are perhaps the most secret and disgusting vile act of Sevco-hun-bigotry in the Club’s history. First worn in 1904, they were the work of Moses McNeil, who wanted a way to express his feelings toward the people he hated the most: Blacks and ******s, thus the black sock with the red trim. The black symbolised that there were too many African Americans in the USA (McNeil of course was a founding member of the second Ku Klux Klan in 1915) and the red to show that we were up to our knees in ****** blood, which to this day is where we and our socks remain. Now that the light has been shined on just a few of the many, many shameful practises at Rangers Football Club I hope you will join me in our progress, and that us good law abiding fans can move forward in peace. http://www.thecoplandroad.org/2013/06/rangers-exposed.html

Never heard of him, when I first saw the headline I thought it was Delia Smith.

By Jonathan Sutherland BBC Scotland Attendances at Scottish Championship clubs could double next season and the division's average gates could exceed those in the Premiership, according to a football finance expert. Neil Patey confirmed to BBC Two Scotland's 'Scotland 2014' programme that the second tier was in for a boom. It is a result of relegation for Hearts and Hibernian, plus Rangers' promotion. "It's entirely conceivable attendances in total will be up between 50% to 100% for the bulk of clubs," said Patey. "The biggest single revenue source for Scottish football clubs is ticket sales. “We've actually sold more season tickets up to the end of May than we've sold for last season” Turnbull Hutton Raith Rovers chairman "Just using some pretty conservative figures, you could easily see income going up between £200,000 to £300,000 for the average Championship club. "If you add in additional matchday sponsorship merchandising, it could exceed £300,000 to £400,000, which is a big chunk of income for the average Championship club." As well as the continued absence of Rangers, traditionally Scotland's biggest-supported club along with Glasgow rivals Celtic, the Premiership will be minus both Edinburgh clubs, who potentially have the third and fourth biggest supports. The top flight will have a new city derby after Dundee won the Championship to join neighbours United, but Hamilton Academical's play-off win over Hibs means the two Edinburgh clubs will be face to face in the second tier. "If you look at the composition of the Championship and the Premiership and the teams that are going to be there, there's only about a 700-800 differential in average attendances," explained Patey, a partner with Ernst and Young. Raith Rovers and Rangers players clash during the Ramsdens Cup final Raith Rovers will face Rangers again after last season's Ramsdens Cup final win "So it just needs a small increment in the Championship, or a small decline in the Premiership, and it's likely the Championship will exceed the current level of 8,600, which is the average for the Premiership." For a club like Raith Rovers, visits by Hearts, Hibs and Rangers could result in around 4,000 travelling fans making the trip to Stark's Park six times during the season. The Kirkcaldy club are installing hundreds of new seats to meet the demand and other Championship clubs are following suit. Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton said: "We've actually sold more season tickets up to the end of May than we've sold for last season and we still have the other surge we expect in July. "So we're looking at probably record season ticket sales for this club for next season. "A perfect storm has come together and we've got three clubs that normally would be expected to be in the Premier League are in the Championship. "And it's not just going to be a blip for the Championship because, with the best will in the world, only two of these clubs can go up - and those of us in the Championship still have ambitions as well." The extra money means a club like Rovers are now able to spruce up their old stadium, install a new PA system and strengthen the squad. It also means the players get a bus to take then to away games next season - in recent years, players have sometimes had to make their own way, while at other times the money to pay for a team bus has come directly from the pocket of the chairman. There is also fresh interest from television companies in screening Championship matches, although that is unlikely to translate into millions of pounds of fresh revenue. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27713955

http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7016-ally-continue-your-magnificent-support

Short snippet at the bottom of the article on Scottish Football however it is the part where each televised league game generates £6.5m in revenue for clubs. We bemoan the standards set by Ally, the lack of youth and no scouts, but competiting with EPL relegation fodder for players is our best hope outside of unearthing gems and eventually setting up an effective scouting network. The club needs to seriously up its game. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27667472 Staggering figures for a nation that has only won one major tournament nearly 50 years ago.

Lifted from their page: I am still of the opinion that we will NOT go in to admin and that Laxey will give us another loan but this time against Auchenhowie training centre. I have, since Friday, been hearing the same rumours that others have been no doubt hearing and I will be investigating them this week. Some reliable sources say we will be in admin before season starts in a way to get high earners off wage bill and others claim the training ground will be getting sold outright before this happens. Both of these rumours are a concern due to the quality of sources and I shall seek to prove them right or wrong. Anyone with info regarding these rumours please feel free to contact me confidentially via personal message

I had a sneaky he would move upstairs in the summer with De Boer and Bergkamp coming in to replace him. Maybe not then! It will be interesting to see what he does in the transfer window, Arsenal fans wont accept unknown or no signings. Arsenal do have a quality squad but they get far too many injuries. Had Walcott and Ramsay not got injured Id say they would have wont the league but Wenger didn't address it in January. If he signs top quality then they will go all the way next season. if he doesn't then he can expect a fight for top 4. He needs a few from: Benzema, Remy, Draxler, Di Maria plus a new right back and a centre half plus a back up keeper. Also needs Walcott, Diaby, Ramsay, Ozil and Wilshire to be fit for a full season...throw in Cazorla, Ox-Cham and Podolski then they can win the league. But Arsenal have to improve next season against Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea home and away plus go to Liverpool and Everton and win games.

SEVEN members of the Green Brigade are to stand trial later this year for allegedly singing a song in support of the IRA. Paul Duke, 37, Ross Gallagher, 29, Christopher Bateman, 28, David Gallacher, 22, Sean Cowden, 21, Kieran Duffy, 19 and Greg Robertson, 28, are charged with the offence. The seven men are alleged to have behaved in a way that “is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder” by singing a song - the Roll of Honour - in support of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at Celtic Park. All of the men maintained their pleas of not guilty when they appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing and the trial was adjourned until November. Duke and Gallagher, from East Kilbride, Bateman, from Irvine, Gallacher, from Glasgow, Cowden from Rutherglen and Duffy from Coatbridge, are accused of singing the song at the champions league qualifier match at a Celtic against Elfsborg match on July 31. Gallagher, Bateman and Robertson, from Glasgow, are accused of singing the song on August 3, at the first game of the season against Ross County. Robertson faces a further charge, with Gallacher, of singing at a home game on August 24 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/green-brigade-members-face-trial-over-ira-song-1-3425725?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed#.U4YbYHbl5sg.twitter

McMurdo corrected his blog when it was pointed out to him that RoI had not qualified for the WC. No apology or sign of shame over concocting all the lies based on this mistake ("up in arms" ..many believe") though. Perhaps lying and inventing are the way of this blog, it is taken for granted. A warning for Bears who read it when it is all about the 'Gers then..... ================ "Roy Keane’s loyalties are again in question over his possible appointment to the Celtic hot seat. Republic of Ireland fans are reputedly up in arms over the matter, seeing Keane’s walking out on the Irish World Cup campaign as being form for him after the notorious events of the Saipan incident in 2002. Many Irish supporters believe that Keane is loyal only to himself and that his departure would be a betrayal of the nation and national team boss Martin O’Neill, especially at this late stage in the team’s preparations for Brazil. Should Keane leave the World Cup camp to take up the reins at Parkhead, it would very possibly create an awkward split between Celtic and the Republic. The club’s connection to and identification with ROI could be undermined if Keane was to be a pariah figure to the Irish supporters. Of course, such a potential conflict of interest would be the ideal reason cited by Celtic bosses for bypassing Keane and choosing a candidate of lesser profile and salary. The tactic of talking big names while signing lesser lights is well-used by the club. Should Keane be the man Celtic are after, however, he would sign knowing that he had brassed off his own countrymen yet once more. The whole matter puts Keane between a rock and a hard place but if Celtic’s interest is genuine, he will have no better chance to resurrect his career in football. It would also give ITV’s football department great kudos as the stable for nurturing upcoming Old Firm managers. Roy Keane, like Ally McCoist before him, is becoming a decent pundit with a sharp eye and great insight into the game. Both men are proof so far, however, that successful football management is not a smooth transition from being great players and decent pundits. Funnily enough, if both men fail to prove themselves as managers they could be sitting together in an ITV football pod rather than in different dugouts. Not a bad fallback… "

“There must be some kind of way outta here Said the joker to the thief There’s too much confusion I can’t get no relief Business men, they drink my wine Plowman dig my earth None were level on the mind Nobody up at his word” Where is it we are trying to get out of ? I would respectfully suggest a rock and a hard place. As many of you know I’m not often given to profanity – but quite simply – what an absolute clusterfeck. There is a civil war engulfing us with our boardroom the battleground. As in every conflict the collateral damage is considerable. On one side we have a board who have failed to impress, fail to convince the Rangers support they have our club’s best interests at heart and on the other side we have the challenger in the shape of Dave King, who appears to be being given considerable latitude in his own failings and lack of clarity, as a consequence of his previous investment in our club. And of course that collateral damage I referred to is manifesting itself not only in a season ticket boycott, but also in the form of a “protest shirt” whose purpose is to deliberately prevent incoming revenue from the sale of club merchandise. It’s easy to say that such ventures deprive the board of money and as anti-board protesters I’m sure that provides the conscience with a fairly robust moral platform for such action. But at what point does it not only deprive the board, but also our club and a manager wishing to strengthen a squad ? Having deliberately deprived the board of regular and essential revenue are we then to hold them to account for failing to enhance our playing squad ? Good Lord. Before anyone starts harbouring feelings of sympathy for the current board allow me to remind you of the 3 critical questions I tweeted about the other week, which as yet remain unanswered. 1. Why did our club have to secure additional funding after CEO Graham Wallace assured us only weeks earlier there was sufficient money in the account. 2. Why have the board not moved to dispel allegations by the Daily Record that our credit/debit card facility was removed re season tickets due to the financial incompetence of the board and not as was suggested in the review – due to threats of an imminent boycott. 3. Why does it appear the Rangers Football Board, or persons serving thereon, have the ability to overrule the PLC board, when circumstances dictate. At the forefront of much of the angst against the current board have been the Sons of Struth. Since its inception this group have campaigned on a platform of opposing any sale or leaseback of Ibrox Stadium. Perhaps this groups 3 original aims and objectives are worthy of a refresh. 1. Keep the stadium in the club’s name to avoid Coventry situation 2. Have clear accounts which prove the proper running of the club 3. Have a board that keep the club off the front pages and who themselves are beyond reproach. To date however the Sons of Struth have not shared with the wider support the circumstances which gave rise to their fears which suggested our stadium may be subject to a sale and leaseback. Why cant those demanding transparency of others lead by example ? Surely if there is evidence which suggests this current board are planning such an option for our stadium it is something which should be shared with the wider support not only made available to a select few ? In fact would the sharing of such information not in fact be in this group’s interests in convincing the undecided within our support of the unsuitability of the current board ? I have spoken previously of our need for our support to find an enthymeme – a point where there is common agreement and we can move on from. Surely the status and destiny of our 2 biggest assets – Ibrox and Auchenhowie – can provide such a point of common agreement. All along the watchtower Princes kept the view While all the women came and went Barefoot servants, too Outside in the cold distance A wildcat did growl Two riders were approaching And the wind began to howl How long before the Princes stop being onlookers, or begging for the scraps off the master’s table ? When will we start campaigning on behalf of ourselves and the vision and aspirations we have for our club instead of using our energies and efforts to do the bidding of others ? When will we realise that the way outta here is to take control of our own destiny, and rely upon ourselves rather than upon others ? As Buy Rangers, Rangers First and Vanguard Bears continue to do that which Dave King seems to find impossible – buy shares in our club – its becoming less and less a question of “if” but rather a question of “when” ? Many music critics have commented on how Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower mirrors the words of The Book Isaiah Chapter 21 :- Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise ye princes, and prepare the shield./For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth./And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed./…And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. I truly hope I live to see the day when Babylon falls at our club.

Rangers fans seek access to season ticket sales figures Written by ANONYMOUS A Rangers supporters' group has called for the club's board to reveal how many season tickets have been sold. The deadline for renewals passed two weeks ago and the rate of sales is critical. Directors have previously admitted that a drop in renewals would affect the business's ability to trade as a going concern. The Union of Fans group has been urging supporters not to renew in protest against the current board. Before the deadline, Rangers admitted that sales were slow and directors even met with members of UoF, a coalition of various different fan organisations, to try to broker a compromise. UoF has been advising fans to pay their renewal money into the Season Ticket Fund, an initiative backed by former Rangers captain Richard Gough and former Ibrox director Dave King. The intention was to only pay the money to the club in return for security over Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park. It was claimed Rangers' chief executive Graham Wallace raised the prospect of the board offering legally binding guarantees not to use the property assets as security for loans or to sell them, but talks subsequently broke down. The Union of Fans have urged Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace to reveal how many season tickets have been sold The Union of Fans have urged Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace to reveal how many season tickets have been sold When the club released their interim results in March, the directors acknowledged that a fall in renewals from last year's sale of around 38,000 would leave the business short of enough income to trade for the next 12 months, although Wallace has been adamant that Rangers International Football Club will not fall into administration. A £1.5m loan from two shareholders - Sandy Easdale and George Letham - is due to be paid back as soon as that amount is raised from season ticket sales, but neither is thought to have received their money back yet. "We urge chief executive Graham Wallace and the board to come clean about how many season tickets they have sold and how much cleared income in the bank these sales have provided," said UoF in a statement. "If and when the cash figure reaches £1.5M, the board, as they announced to the Stock Exchange when the loans were negotiated, must immediately pay Sandy Easdale £500,000 and George Letham £1m. "For the avoidance of doubt, if these loans have not yet been repaid, it means that the board have not yet secured £1.5m of season ticket money or they have broken the repayment terms of these loans. "We would ask the board to make a clear statement of the number of fans who have renewed to the AIM market in order that supporters and shareholders can rely on the accuracy of the figure given. "This is a matter of grave concern for shareholders and supporters alike and we also believe it must be something which is being monitored by auditors, Deloitte. "When we met Graham Wallace on 14 May, he once again reiterated that there was 'no possibility of administration'. "We would therefore ask him to make it clear how the club plans to operate at what we believe is a greatly reduced level of season ticket sales." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/27651399

I posted this in the footie section, but thought it would be better in here?,admin can delete if they think different. COUNTY chairman MacGregor is leading the way in re-engaging with Scottish football fans by making his club's relationship with their supporters a priority. HE owns and runs a business worth half a billion pounds a year and a community football club worth its weight in gold. In the fragmented new landscape of Scottish football, strewn with the detritus of mismanagement, Roy MacGregor should be a guiding light. A man who believes in customer and fan first, everything else a distant second. Who invests in the people of Dingwall and Inverness and reaps the rewards. Who lives within his means despite their limitations. Two hundred miles away from the game’s traditional epicentre, though, his voice remains relatively unheard. A whisper of common sense drowned out by the eternal bickering of the incompetent. As the chairman of both Ross County and the Global Energy Group he doesn’t take it personally. He has enough on his plate. That doesn’t mean what he has to say isn’t worth hearing, though. So when a man of his substance tells you a Scottish game which sees three of its biggest clubs languishing outside the top tier is ripe for reinvention, for re-engagement, someone in the hierarchy should be asking him not why but how. “Scottish football is still getting an awakening,” said MacGregor. “It’s not so much the sport – I see fledgling shoots all over the place, with young players getting an opportunity but the game is still unable to enthuse the broadcasters and the public. “I see it in all areas of our game that we have forgotten either our brand or our customer. “Clubs have to examine their customer, their fan. If you take your eye off that you have questions to answer. It comes back to boards of directors understanding fans. “Clubs have forgotten their fans and in any business you do that at your peril. “It’s not finance. Nothing to do with it. Hibs’ budget was five times mine – it’s about your relationship with your customer. “Football clubs used to have really good relationships but they took it for granted. Now we need to reinvent it – and everything negative that’s happening can have a positive outcome but only if boards and fans groups get their eye back on the right values. “Hearts have done it, Hibs are doing it as we speak. Rangers still have to find whatever it is they’re looking for. Their directors don’t have their eye on their fans.” As we talk in his Inverness HQ MacGregor has spent the morning at his club’s ground, throwing ideas at his admin staff on how to improve the matchday experience for their fans, and, uniquely, the away support as well. He talks free pies, free transport, entertainment, value for kids – anything that is the opposite of standing still. He knows half the ideas might not fly but it won’t stop him stretching his people to try. He sighed: “We don’t market the game in this country. The league body should be 90 per cent PR and marketing and 10 per cent rules and administration – we’re the other way round. “Yet I look at what Man City are doing around their stadium and I want to do it. You’re not just going to a game. You’re going to the Man City Experience. You’re there from lunchtime, eating, drinking, being entertained, engaging with the community around the club. “Today’s pay-as-you-go generation have choices to make. The people are still there, just in a different culture. When we first came in the league we went down to Morton – I’d never been there before and the ground had held 35,000 people at one point. “And you look out and see the shipyards and decay and you imagine the people who worked there and went for a pie and a pint and then went to the football. “Yet there were only 1200 people there that day. “If you fight your fanbase like, say, Rangers are doing, your club will never be right. It’s a dysfunctional relationship. The hierarchy in football is changing for the better but it’s the clubs who need to change. Get real with where they are with their fans, with their stakeholders, with the Press. “I see it happening because of finance but it needs to be in your soul. “I’m here with Ross County because I believe in an area which didn’t get an opportunity in a football sense, a talent sense or a business sense to express themselves as part of the UK or Scotland. “My role is to give people opportunity. I do it with my business and with my football club. And we don’t live beyond our means.” MacGregor is rightly proud of his club finishing fifth then seventh in their first two seasons of top-flight football, less than 20 years on from becoming a senior club and on one of the smallest budgets and fanbases in the country. But you’ll never catch him thinking they’ve become something they’re not. He said: “What’s success for us? To stay in the top division and do well in a Cup. Anything beyond that is aspirational. “Plug your club into that aspiration. Don’t think you can be a top-six club. It’s not possible. It’s a bonus and you have to be exceptional to do it. “So just be real and don’t let your supporters get expectations beyond reality. The biggest thing is for the fans to believe you can be better than what you are. You always try to outperform what you are and the fans will come with you.” MacGregor also refuses to fall into the trap many wealthy football benefactors have. He’s watched Stewart Milne and David Murray make decisions in the game they’d never in a million years have made in business but he said: “I find the discipline of it easy because I worry, if I get expectation beyond reality, I’ll let my community down. “I go through the wringer the same as every other fan. I’ve been watching my team since 1966 but I’m not on an ego trip. “I’m in it for an area which has two Premiership teams and is being recognised at last that it’s part of the framework of Scotland.” Yet not so much part of the framework that he’s ever held office in a game you’d think would be crying out for its best business minds to participate. “I’ve never been asked,” he deadpans. “But then this part of the world is still trying to come to terms with being part of football and being accepted. “We’ve never been accepted as part of the football hierarchy and it’s 20 years on. I’m not complaining. We’re 200 miles away from the mass of football supposedly but this season we’re playing five teams who are nearly home games for us, all north of the Tay. “So it HAS changed. Where the heartland of football was has been rocked. “It’s getting better though. We’ve had some revolution in the SFA, we have the leagues together again and I believe the structure is better. “But selling the game is still a difficult job, especially with three of our biggest clubs out of the top division. “So you need to sell the brand on 42 clubs, not 12, and you need to sell it on the whole nation. You need someone who buys into that. “It’s difficult because we have a devolution debate – are UK wide companies wanting to get into that debate by getting into football? “You have issues with tarnished goods – clubs who can’t manage themselves. That effect is still there. The product is not good. But there’s a lot more sense being talked and it’s out of necessity. Setbacks are opportunities. “The SPFL will have to adjust their TV policy, for example, and if that’s what the fan wants? You’ll have to give them Hearts v Rangers not St Johnstone v Ross County. “Do what the customer wants.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/f...gregor-3632540

We are currently in the process of gathering together names of individuals and representatives of fans groups, RSCs, websites, etc who are willing to come along and help find a solution to the infighting amongst our fans. If you are interested in attending the meeting could you please email info@thelouden.co.uk (or you could dm/pm us) with your name and any group that you wish to represent or are a part of. To be clear, any individual who wishes to attend to try and help our support is more than welcome but we would appreciate an email so as to know the numbers. Regarding the format of the meeting, we are looking for suggestions on what specifically the meeting should cover. We are not discussing the politics at the club, we are only focusing on the way fans communicate with each other. This is not about which side is right or wrong. We do not need everyone to agree about everything but at all times we should be civil to one another. The meeting will be held in the lounge area of the pub and no alcohol will be served for the duration of the meeting. If anyone wants any other information, please ask. Thanks We Are The People God Bless The Rangers The Louden Tavern: Ibrox Stadium - More than a Pub Official Partner of The Rangers Football Club *We are responsible for The Louden Tavern: Ibrox Stadium, 111 Copland Road, Ibrox, G51 2SL solely and are not involved in the operation of any other premises

keith jackson ‏@tedermeatballs 43s More sources close to RFC board saying 20k season tickets now sold. If true then they should thank Dave King for his prolonged silence. IF true.

Approx 230 pages containing over 7,000 signatories and about 80 pages of comments Thanks to all who added to the numbers Craig SoS

Thursday, 29 May 2014 14:00 Gers Confirm Pre Season Tours Written by Rangers Football Club http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/6988-gers-confirm-pre-season-tours RANGERS have today confirmed they will prepare for the 2014/15 Championship campaign with a visit to Northern Scotland and a 12-day trip to America and Canada. Following a successful training camp last year, the League One Champions will again head to Brora on 1 July for a six-day trip which includes a friendly against Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park on Thursday 3 July (7.30pm kick off) and a game against Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park on Sunday 6 July (3pm kick off). Ally McCoist's squad will then travel to America and Canada from 12 July, playing two games in each country. Rangers play Ventura County Fusion at Ventura College Sportsplex in California at 7pm on 15 July then Sacramento Republic FC at Bonney Field, Sacramento at 7.30pm on 19 July. The Light Blues then play two games in Canada – against Victoria Highlanders at the Centennial Stadium, British Columbia at 6pm on 21 July with another fixture on 23 July to be confirmed in due course. Kick off times for all fixtures are local times. Rangers visited the United States ahead of the 2002/03 campaign and the trip to New York prepared the team for a treble-winning season, while Walter Smith’s class of 2006/07 won an end of season friendly against LA Galaxy in California in May 2007. Ally McCoist commented: “I am delighted our pre-season plans are now in place and we can prepare for next season’s important campaign in the Championship. “We enjoyed a successful trip to Northern Scotland last year and we look forward to taking the squad there once again to play Buckie Thistle and Brora Rangers. “We then head across the Atlantic to play four games in America and Canada and I have no doubt our overseas supporters will enjoy seeing the team in action once again. “We have a wonderful global fanbase and I am sure the members of NARSA (North American Rangers Supporters Association) will turn out in huge numbers at all of our games. “The trip to America and Canada is also a fantastic opportunity to re-introduce Rangers to the North American fans and I am confident the tour will be a success on a number of levels.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/6988-gers-confirm-pre-season-tours

Being said on FF and Twitter that VB met with the board the day after the UOF meeting. Somers and James Easdale also attended. Why would the board meet with such a small unrepresentative group? As is being said on Twitter most supporters clubs have more members.

Not exactly Rangers chat but I think most people will enjoy this Chris Graham article which comprehensively destroys Kevin McKenna's Lennon article of last week... http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/current-affairs/324-neil-lennon-the-bravest-man-in-scotland

Announcement: Gersnet and WATP Magazine link up with a new monthly Gersnet column We are delighted to announce that from this summer a monthly Gersnet column will now be featured in WATP Magazine - the only A4 sized monthly magazine by Rangers fans, for Rangers fans. Gersnet was one of the first Rangers discussion websites and has been a quality source of information and debate on the club for almost 15 years. WATP magazine begun its life in season 2013/14 and quickly became one of the biggest selling print fanzines; rivalled only by the official match-day programme in terms of it's first-rate A4 colour production and content. In each monthly issue you will find columns and interviews from club legends, articles that look into today's Rangers written from well-known supporters and historical articles which will take your breath away at the majesty of our history. The features section includes a closer look at the Rangers family, with everything from Supporters Club of the Month to the lovely Bearette section. We can't wait to complement all the above with our own writers from the Gersnet website and forum! You can subscribe to the magazine via www.watpmagazine.co.uk and follow WATP on Twitter @WATP_Magazine. Gersnet and WATP - 'One Rangers, no factions'.

Have been asked the share the following press release: http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/247-fernando-ricksen-testimonial-information

IMO this question should come before the one about on-field exploits. There are many things to take into consideration and perhaps the Financial Bears could map out what they see as a probable/conditional route through the next 12 months. Some of the obvious questions that scream out are:- - Where is the money coming from to keep the lights-on? - Will there be an insolvency event? - What will be the final ST number? - Will game by game maintain it's attraction? - How long will it take to get a share issue up and running and will it be successful? - Is there money to carry out plans mapped out in business review? - How deep could austerity hit us? - How exactly will austerity hit ut? - How will severe austerity be paid for? (pay-offs) - When do the assets go? - Do you trust who is in control of the board (including the Easdale proxy block)? etc.

EMBATTLED Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie will today meet with the disgruntled supporters group demanding his resignation. The Hibernian Supporters Association (HSA), which is understood to have the backing of 14 different groups associated with the club, requested face-to-face talks following the club’s relegation to the Championship. In a statement on Sunday evening, Petrie steadfastly refused to quit. However, he has agreed to meet with the key protagonists in the bid for a regime change at Easter Road in Edinburgh this afternoon. HSA chairman Mike Riley will be present at the meeting, as will former Hibs player Paul Kane and son of former Hibs vice-chairman Kenny McLean, Kenny McLean Jnr. It is understood they will take the opportunity to urge Petrie to relinquish his role as chairman after ten years at the helm. It is unclear whether incoming chief executive Leeann Dempster will be present, given she does not officially begin her role until 1 June. With sources close to HSA admitting they are “not confident” Petrie will be receptive to the idea of stepping aside at the meeting, they are planning to press ahead with plans to oust the chairman. They will unveil their aims at a press conference in the capital tomorrow morning and are understood to have the backing of business figures within the city and several former players. With the finer details and legal issues to be ironed out, HSA have been reluctant to confirm their plans before tomorrow’s 11am announcement, however a season-ticket boycott is thought to be on the agenda. “The fans want Mr Petrie out, the fans want a total change, they have no confidence in him whatsoever,” said Riley. “We are down and how long are we going to stay down? Are we going to come back up? Where is the club going? Are we going to slip even further? That’s why we are determined. Everything you can think of is on the agenda.” http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/petrie-agrees-to-showdown-with-angry-hibs-fans-1-3425731