Deal or No Deal? A Footballing Farce...

[Frankie 8,529]

Now, I'm the first to highlight caution when it comes to believing what you read in the papers - not least when it is Graham Spiers writing about Rangers. Hyperbole, imbalance, mischief and trouble should accompany any by-line when this particular member of the broadsheet (I use the term loosely) fraternity dares to debate our club. However, in his article today, there appears to be a few direct quotes from our current chairman Alastair Johnston which suggests his commentary is, in this case, authentic and worth discussing.

 

Therefore, it isn't a surprise that the article in question has raised a few eyebrows while once again stirring the ever-simmering pot of ownership suspense at Rangers. Essentially, as many Rangers fans fear, it appears Mr Johnston is concerned about the uncertainty of the Andrew Ellis bid to buy the club. Indeed, reading between the lines, one would be forgiven for picturing Johnson speaking through gritted teeth over the likelihood of Ellis being the next owner of Rangers. Johnston may not be the judge but he's certainly part of the jury which has yet to be provided genuine evidence of a worthy bid for the club.

 

So who is the judge then and where are they?

 

The answer to that is initially easy to answer but, as usual, when it comes to the financial background of Rangers, slightly more difficult to put a finger on. Empirically speaking though, Sir David Murray remains the owner of Rangers as he's majority shareholder of the club and majority shareholder of MIH. Thus, he still makes key decisions for both organisations - albeit with an increasing say for the Lloyds Banking Group and with the guiding hand of turnaround specialist Donald Muir beside theirs on the tiller. Is it any wonder the direction seem to change daily?

 

Therefore when Alastair Johnston takes umbrage about Andrew Ellis not affording him the respect of a meeting to discuss all the above, Ellis can rightly point out Johnston's unimportant position in the food chain. To be fair to our existing chairman though, he is correct to ask why dialogue seems to frighten the Ellis camp. Indeed, every Rangers fan should be asking suitable questions of any bidder. All in all though, once more, there is nothing new in Spiers' article - doubt, cynicism, concern and suspicion are all facets of this issue which until it is resolved will continue to be prevalent; no matter our place in the Rangers family.

 

To that end, it isn't Johnston's concerns about the Ellis bid that worry me today but the fact our chairman is flying back off to the Land of the Free without making clear our budget and strategy for next season. At the Rangers Assembly meeting of last week, we were told a 'limited', improving budget was likely but we have had no official confirmation of this. During the same meeting the Assembly were asked to convey the message that season ticket monies were essential for club operations. Once again it appears our loyalty is the single most important financial investment into the club. And once again, it appears this call has been heeded with sales currently matching those of last year. So far so good!

 

Yet, despite this incredible loyalty and act of trust in people like Mr Johnston, his board of directors and Sir David Murray, we're no closer to solving this year-on-year challenge of self-funding. Unbelievably our legendary manager seems no closer to signing a new contract. Worryingly, we have several out-of-contract players about to leave on free transfers leaving our squad more depleted than ever before. Disappointingly, we have even more players whose contracts are running out next season but whose future seems equally uncertain. Frustratingly, we have no way of knowing if any further income will be used to improve our squad for next season. Annoyingly, we don't know if key players need to be sold (or want to leave). Interestingly, we have signed a few unknown young players but our youth system and scouting network appear disjointed and underfunded. Disgracefully, we have a tax 'query pending' which no-one seems to know what will cost us down the line. Laughably, we have an UEFA 'elite' class stadium with huge TV screens which dominant the arena but, erm, don't work.

 

Are we talking about the operations of the world's most successful domestic club or Fawlty Towers FC? Farcical doesn't begin to describe the status quo.

 

Now, while Alistair Johnston may be the chairman, it is unfair to suggest he is at fault for all the problems above. However, he is part of the problem as, like many others, he seems unable to provide a distinct path towards a brighter future for our club while asking for our money at the same time. Of course, that criticism should go above him to the very top as it can't be easy to work with your hands tied behind your back. What will it take then to stir Sir David Murray from his stupor? Certainly, continued calls for clarity and leadership from various parties go unanswered so where else can a doubting support go than to the custodian of the club.

 

Unfortunately for us, he seems to be too busy playing his own money games of which luck is determined by external parties. Has he opened all his boxes already or is the Banker laughing on the other side of the line? At what point do all these people stop making a mockery of Rangers and at what point does the unwavering commitment of the Rangers support get rewarded by treating us with respect instead of disdain.

 

[gisabeer 409]

I dont think any body knows whats going on in the boardroom mate and worse still there isnt anyone in the boardroom who is in a position to help the club out of the myre its in.

 

They have no answers to the questions you pose. Everyone is sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting for the new owner with a bag of cash to come and save the day. I dont believe that this is going to happen though. ellis's bid is gathering dust and im of the thinking that if he was a serious contender he would have made a move by now. I think its a safe bet to kick him into touch.

 

There is only one saviour for the club. We the fans who put their good hard earned cash into the club at the turnstiles. We will be the ones who keep the club afloat, albeit on its knees over the comming years. It is we the fans who will pay for the diabolical mismanagement of the club under David murray.

 

If anybody thought that the last ten years was a real test of your loyalty to the club then the next ten are going to take you to the brink of oblivion. it wont be about success winning leagues and cups it will be about making it through the season and hoping we still have a club at the end.

 

Its felt like a rollercoaster ride since our financial debacle came to light but the truth is we were only on the kiddies ride. were on the big dipper now and the cars have just pulled up to the top of the of the first dip and its a long long way down before we get back up the other side.

 

Very dark days ahead indeed.

[Frankie 8,529]

Gisabeer:

 

I think you make some very valid points - even if your analysis may be somewhat more negative than we'd like.

 

1. Of the existing board - most have contributed to where the club is as it stands so anyone expecting them to get us out of our ongoing problems could be waiting a long time.

 

2. I guess with the Ellis bid, we'll know very soon according to what his spokesman said in the ET today. His preference for privacy is interesting (and actually refreshing) but also disconcerting and unhelpful. His bluff has now been called though very publicly.

 

3. I agree the fans remain the most important part of the club in a financial sense. CL and player income is also vital but our season ticket revenue has been one certainty over the last 10 years since the SPL became a fiscal back-water. The reluctance oft he club to explore ways of making our relationship more formal than emotional is a huge mistake in my opinion. Unfortunately, we've not helped out own credibility in that regard so are just as much to blame arguably. There is not much sign of change either.

 

Your roller-coaster analogy is a good one. No-one knows how deep the troughs may be but there appear to be more of them ahead than peaks. That alone should be precipitating action but personality clashes seem more agreeable to some than constructive action.

 

[Zappa 0]

Personally, I don't think the future for the club is anywhere near as doom and gloom as some people would have us believe. I think the problems are deliberately being blown out of proportion from within the club to try to flush out a buyer and also in some cases outwith the club, to try to pressure SDM & the bank into letting the club go for considerably less than it's actually worth.

 

People are getting their knickers in a twist about all the players due to be let go and it is slightly worrying, but the fact of the matter is that Boyd, Novo, Broadfoot, Wilson & Fleck were all offered new contracts. It just happens that Fleck is so far the only one to accept what he was offered, so I fail to see where any real blame lies with the club when all of the offers bar perhaps Novo's were supposedly improved deals for the players. It's not the club's fault if players chose not to accept the improved deals.

 

We'll just have to wait and see what happens over the summer. We'll soon know if things are really bad or not because if key players worth a lot of money are sold for peanuts it'll signify desperation. My prediction though, is that the club is still strong, will be very prudent with our remaining key player assets & will be rejecting quite a few low bids over the summer coming from south of the border.

[Frankie 8,529]

Zappa:

 

Like you, I'm of the mind the situation is probably not as bad as some will have us believe. I expect us to be prudent and don't mind further cuts if it leads to proper efficiency and long-term improvement in service. I'm also happy we're not being overly extravagant in our contract offers and accept players may choose to leave as opposed to us not offering suitable deals.

 

If that is the case then, a deadline for their decision needs to be given so we can move forward and approach other players. Problem is can we afford to bring in other suitable players unless we move on existing assets? I don't think we can.

 

That in itself isn't a problem as, again, I don't mind us selling players at the correct time to service the debt and make monies available for new staff. However, once more, will we be able to do that very season? What happens next season when even more players are out of contract? Can we really be certain the replacements this season and next will be better than them - or of good enough quality to deliver success?

 

Generally speaking, I don't think the situation is one that is immediately worrying. Nonetheless, I feel there is a problem there for the medium-long term which may well justify the doom and gloom suggested by some.

 

What is certain is that we need fresh investment and innovation within the club. With every passing day the apparent inability of the board to deliver that is perhaps the greatest worry of all.

[Zappa 0]

What is certain is that we need fresh investment and innovation within the club. With every passing day the apparent inability of the board to deliver that is perhaps the greatest worry of all.

.

I think the situation will only improve markedly if a take over happens, since it seems the board's hands are currently tied during this period of limbo.

[wabashcannonball 0]

As it was when this thing started so it will be however it ends, Murray will have called the shots, and all the journos and print in the world will not change that.

 

When did one man become a consortium. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/8690286.stm

Edited May 18, 2010 by wabashcannonball

[Zappa 0]

An Ellis 'group spokesman' has said this afternoon that the group is still considering an offer according to something the beeb put on their site about half an hour ago, but they have no quotes from this supposed spokesman, so they're probably just at it.

[Zappa 0]

Ah, I see wabash has put the link in his post.

[Zappa 0]

David Edgar speaks to the beeb - Fans frustrated over Ellis bid - Edgar