the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 listen if Walters lying that's unacceptable and its little better than this. but I'm taking him at face value because he's more than earned my trust. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dutchy Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 At least he doesn't need to pay JB a wage. lol 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplythebest 0 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Smith wouldn't have been doing the investing really. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 he was clear on the intentions of his consortium. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplythebest 0 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 he was clear on the intentions of his consortium. But I thought we weren't meant to take people's word for stuff anymore? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 he was clear on the intentions of his consortium. Yes they were going to sell up and walk away when the club was stable, you really think they were going to sell for the same price they bought the club for. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 But I thought we weren't meant to take people's word for stuff anymore? actions must match words but I trust Walter. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Yes they were going to sell up and walk away when the club was stable, you really think they were going to sell for the same price they bought the club for. that's what he said yes. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve1872 4 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Walter Smith reveals blueprint WALTER SMITH last night revealed the blueprint he felt would have saved Rangers and secured a prosperous long-term future. Earlier this month Smith fronted a consortium that wanted to buy the troubled club to save it from more potential damage. The former Ibrox boss teamed up with wealthy Scottish businessmen Jim McColl and Douglas Park but they were told the asking price was £20million. Negotiations with English-based company Zeus Capital then came to an abrupt halt. That has left Charles Green – whose own consortium paid just £5.5m for the club’s assets – in control of Rangers but the future looks bleak. Big-name players have quit and supporters are refusing to buy season tickets. The sorry situation has left Smith frustrated as he believes all of this would have been avoided if the current owners had sold to his consortium. Smith, McColl and Park have now walked away from any future dealings and have no intentions of getting involved in further discussions with Green’s people. Walter said: “We were really disappointed. Although the bid was late coming in, we were led to believe there was an opportunity for us to take over. “When I was approached by Douglas and Jim to go into it I was delighted to do so because I felt – and still do – that having the two of them effectively owning the club would have been the best thing for the future of Rangers. “Despite their attempt, we didn’t manage to get it. Right from the start, Jim and Douglas were perfectly clear what their intentions were. We were going to make the bid and hopefully take over. “It wasn’t going to be a situation where there would be a massive influx of cash. The club was going to have to settle down and get two years over with. They were going to be really hard years. “The beauty of what they were trying to do was that they were prepared to buy the club, to put themselves out and to put a proper structure in place. “And they weren’t looking for anything in return. That is the big difference between them and other people that have been involved. “They were prepared to help with the running of the club over the next few years, which was going to be important, but every penny that would come in from season tickets and all other areas would go directly into the club. “There was no money going to be taken out at any time. “When we talked about it, the three of us were quite clear that there was never going to be any protracted negotiations in the takeover. “We’d make the bid that we felt was right for the club, the right amount of money for everybody involved, and we would get on with it. “I was disappointed these two people didn’t manage to gain control of the club and I still think both of them represent by far the best option for the future. “Despite a bit of criticism for the lateness of the bid, I can assure you there was plenty ground work done prior to and during the few days that we made the decision to withdraw. “Right at the very start of this, we decided we didn’t want long-winded or protracted aspects to anything. “They were disappointed but I stress to everybody that both Jim and Douglas deserve credit for the attempt and for the fact that it wasn’t financial. “It was to make sure Rangers Football Club get back to where people would associate Rangers being. “We were perfectly clear in what we were doing and what was going to happen. “The main thing is the disappointment that the club itself is not going to benefit from the knowledge of two of Scotland’s better businessmen. Rangers needed them. But that is now it over.” Several other parties also asked Smith to back their moves to buy Rangers. He refused to go public with any of them but it was different with McColl and Park. He felt they were right. They decided tough decisions had to be made, including slashing the first-team wage bill to £5m per year for the next two seasons. That would have meant reducing it by two-thirds but they were keen to clear the decks and make sure the club never again entered administration. Smith’s group would have told the fans of their plans. Transparency was of paramount importance to them. But at this stage, unfortunately, too many key questions remain unanswered from Green and his men. Smith said: “What we were going to do was put in a management team. I wouldn’t have been the chairman, I wouldn’t have been taking any money. I’ve made a good living already out of Rangers. “It would’ve been a management team turnover in terms of hopefully a few years. Then we would have gone and looked for investment. Jim and Douglas could have stayed in or withdrawn.” More drama and potential heartache now await Rangers. SPL clubs are certain to block the newco’s application this week and Gers will be forced to sweat it out to see if they can get into the First Division. Rangers may have to start again in the Third Division and that strikes fear into Smith’s heart, not only for the club he loves but the Scottish game as a whole. He stressed: “We’re now looking at no Old Firm games. That’s a drastic circumstance for Scottish football. People have to say that, whether they like it or don’t like it, the Old Firm are a major part of Scottish football. “I know that a lot of the time from other clubs there’s a resentment of that. “I don’t think Rangers would want different treatment from anybody else. But the whole circumstance has been badly handled. “Ten years ago we had an administration aspect at Motherwell then we had a liquidation at Gretna. “So any sanctions that they were going to take against any club should’ve been put in place at that time. “That aspect has been negligent from the SFA – that nothing was put in place. So what we have now is something of a free-for-all with Rangers. “A lot of the stuff that is coming out wouldn’t have happened if there had been proper statutes in place. “Everyone is going to start to have a fear now about the very future of Scottish football. “Everyone can posture, it might be good to have a wee kick at Rangers at the moment. “However, the bottom line is that if Rangers go to the Third Division – or even the First Division and are not competitive – then it’s going to affect the whole of Scottish football in a drastic way.” 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 as I say. we will need every last penny to recover. its regrettable that people are trying to profit when others are prepared not to. it will slow our recovery. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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