Rangers EGM - Our Alamo Awaits

[D'Artagnan 173]

“The dark eleventh hour

Draws on and sees us sold

To every evil power

We fought against of old.

Rebellion, rapine hate

Oppression, wrong and greed

Are loosed to rule our fate”

 

I don’t think regular readers of this blog would describe me as what the media refer to as a “pop-pom cheerleader” of the various factions vying for control of our club. I’ve never seen the attraction nor sense of writing a blog to further the endeavours of rich businessmen who can afford their own PR machines.

 

I’ve been highly critical of Dave King’s strategy to gain control of our club, and I stand by such criticism to this day. When I wrote my open letter to him, I envisaged King riding in like the 7th cavalry, scooping up shares to gain control of our club. Thereby uniting a fractured support, and thus enabling us to get behind our club where together we could build a stable future for her. What we got of course was something completely different which has only served to exacerbate such fractures.

 

Furthermore, contrary to some reports, Mike Ashley is not the devil incarnate. He is a powerful, ruthless and opportunistic businessman who appears to maximise to his full potential, the misfortune and weakness of others. Sentiment does not appear to come into it – just ask the employees of USC.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/mike-ashley-wields-his-iron-fist-once-more-at-usc-9994171.html

 

Alarmingly, our football club appears to be the latest victim of Mr Ashley’s growing business empire and he has been assisted in this to the full by a thoroughly incompetent, self-serving and shambolic Rangers board. Having comprehensively failed to balance the housekeeping budget they have then compounded the problem by rejecting all offers of outside investment thus leaving our club on the equivalent of a life support machine – relying on short term cash infusions where only the good grace and will of the donors prevented us from going under, as this shambles of a board failed to meet the repayments within the agreed time period.

 

While the Man who would be King issued sound bite statements to the press, Ashley continued to increase his powerbase within our club, but of course every power grab carried a considerable financial caveat. Our retail, our historical assets, even our very trademark were considered fair game. Where there were dissenting voices within our boardroom, people who dared to highlight that such deals were not in the best interests of our club – Ashley eradicated them. Messrs Wallace, Nash & Crighton – RIP.

 

A number of leaked e-mails demonstrated that the remnants of the Rangers board appeared to be more concerned about preserving their places on the board rather than pursuing the best financial deal for the club.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11247379/Sandy-Easdales-true-role-in-Rangers-takeover-talks-thrown-into-question-by-release-of-emails.html

 

Further confirmation of this was provided courtesy of Colin Kingsnorth of Laxey, who clearly felt it was appropriate to call time on this acquiescing of power to the Ashley Empire.

 

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11788/9626770/scottish-championship-laxey-partners-sell-rangers-shares

 

The consequence of course, is that we now have a Rangers board dominated by Ashley men. These are the same men who control the destiny of our retail, our historical assets (with the exception of Ibrox – for now) our very trademark. I will ask you a simple question.

 

When it comes to a crucial vote in our boardroom whose interests will these men move to protect – Rangers or Sports Direct?

 

The situation is beyond dire but it is still salvageable. Dave King has called for an EGM which will present us with the opportunity to replace the current board. I’m not being melodramatic when I say the destiny and future of our club is in the hand of shareholders.

 

Furthermore I will not mislead you. I’m convinced Dave King does not have the financial muscle which the Ashley Empire has at its disposal. If we vote to remove the current board and replace it with a Dave King one, I believe our club will be on its knees for a longer period.

 

But I’d much rather be on my knees under my own strength, striving and aspiring to restore this club to its former glory with every part of the body working together to achieve that aim, than be on my knees bended in servitude and reliant on the quick fix solutions of others at a cost which threaten to take away my very soul, my very heritage and my identity,

 

What answer from the North?

 

A resounding “Thanks, but No thanks Mr Ashley”

[Tannochsidebear 2,406]

Another good piece D'Art, thanks.

 

While Ashley clearly has the financial muscle at it's disposal, as you put it, he clearly does not intend actually investing a single penny into our club. His shares were bought from an existing shareholder. His loans are , well, loans and fully repayable. His retail "partnership" through Rangers Retail ensures he cannot make a loss or needs to invest a penny into it. I have no doubt the only money he has actually spent in Rangers direction is on legal and accounting fees, which he is still well ahead on with the repayment terms of his loans, and in any event that money doesn't actually benefit our club in the same way as him actually paying for advertising space would, that is if he did pay for the advertising space that his company has plenty of at Ibrox.

 

In short, his financial muscle is not being flexed in our direction for the benefit of our club, and therefore it is fairly irrelevant other than as a smokescreen for those few (surely now a very small number) of fans who still believe he can and will come good for us. Give me someone (anyone) with Rangers support in their blood and the means and desire to treat us properly, and I will happily take it, even if their disposable income is a couple of Billion less than the corporate rapist with financial muscle.

[colinstein 294]

I disagree that Ashley has taken advantage of an "incompetent" board. It looks to me like it's been a stitch up involving Ashley (and his minions) from the start.

I also disagree that our support is "fractured" Everyone I've spoken to is of the same opinion. The only ones disagreeing with the boards removal are the paid plants on a fake Rangers fans website notorious for having board members posting under assumed names. That'll be the same one another paid up member of the gravy train loyal, McMurdo posts on,

[D'Artagnan 173]

I disagree that Ashley has taken advantage of an "incompetent" board. It looks to me like it's been a stitch up involving Ashley (and his minions) from the start.

I also disagree that our support is "fractured" Everyone I've spoken to is of the same opinion. The only ones disagreeing with the boards removal are the paid plants on a fake Rangers fans website notorious for having board members posting under assumed names. That'll be the same one another paid up member of the gravy train loyal, McMurdo posts on,

 

What are you referring to ?

[colinstein 294]

you post on it pal. You should know.

[D'Artagnan 173]

If you are referring to Rangers Media - I suggest you really need to get out more.

[craig 5,199]

No accusations regarding other Gers forums please - we don't allow it here so please refrain.

[MeAndMyWeePalJoe 12]

Thanks for that D'Art.

 

Furthermore' date=' contrary to some reports, Mike Ashley is not the devil incarnate. He is a powerful, ruthless and opportunistic businessman who appears to maximise to his full potential, the misfortune and weakness of others. Sentiment does not appear to come into it – just ask the employees of USC.

[/quote']

The part I have quoted reminded me of a few lines from Woody Guthrie's Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd...

 

Yes, as through this world I've wandered

I've seen lots of funny men;

Some will rob you with a six-gun,

And some with a fountain pen.

 

I'm probably stating the obvious but I see an analogy of the Battle of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution as very fitting given that the ruthlessness shown by the Mexican Army in that battle led to a swell in membership of the Texian Army and eventually to their victory.

 

Our victory awaits...

Edited January 30, 2015 by MeAndMyWeePalJoe

[colinstein 294]

No accusations regarding other Gers forums please - we don't allow it here so please refrain.

 

I appreciate and understand what you're saying, which is why

I didn't name any other forum

[the gunslinger 3,366]

If you are referring to Rangers Media - I suggest you really need to get out more.

 

their are paid "supporters" out there spreading propeganda.

 

though only a few.