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Rubbish Jack, Kamara & Davis have proven we don’t get intimidated

I'd be less bothered about public statements if I felt the club was actually dealing with this issue behind closed doors (which is the way it should be done). However, I think the main concern we all have is that we don't believe the club is dealing with this in an effective manner. I've certainly seen nothing to suggest we are able to influence the relevant stakeholders. I get the impression that our approach is to focus on winning the league and that somehow it'll change when we are champions again. Some things will change when we are champions, but I doubt very much that the attitude towards us from the press (including the BBC) will ever change without taking serious action. Statements are merely to appease fans, but only legal action will achieve anything.

This thread has taken an unexpected turn. Anyway, here's some fuel for the fire... Personally, without any inside knowledge, I expect every member of the Hamilton board, playing staff and supporter would love to win the Scottish Cup. The Scottish Cup final has been contested by Ross County, Falkirk, Motherwell, Inverness, Dundee Utd, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs the Tims and ourselves over the last decade. The decade before saw Queen Of The South, Gretna and Dunfermline reach the final. So it's not inconceivable that Hamilton, or any other side in the top 2 leagues in Scotland, could make the final. However, undoubtedly every side in Scotland sees the Cup as a potential cash windfall, and for many, many sides the prospect of a trip to Ibrox or Parkhead is a huge bonus for them. There is still romance in a small side drawing a big side and travelling to their ground for the match. I suspect some of the people involved at Stranraer on Friday will never forget the experience, one they may never be involved in again. It's different for Hamilton, they play us 3 or 4 times a season just now, they are already guaranteed at least one trip to Ibrox, so drawing us is less 'romantic' in that respect. But it would be naive, I think, to dismiss the financial windfall a trip to Ibrox would provide a club like Hamilton. Getting half the gate, probable TV revenue, catering and so on would make a massive difference to them, it wasn't so long ago they somehow 'lost' half a million to a Nigerian prince or some other internet scam. I think it's entirely possible for people involved with a club to hope for an away tie whilst still harbouring thoughts of winning and progressing, you can be pragmatic and romantic. The term 'Old Firm' comes from the belief that both club's directors were more interested in money than 'romance'. There was a widely held belief that the clubs played out pre-agreed draws, requiring replays, so both could cash in on another full house. Back in 1909 after a Cup replay also ended in a draw there was a full scale riot, involving both sets of supporters, aimed at the Glasgow police, both club's directors and the SFA. We literally tried to burn down Hampden that day. Romantic. Anyone with any connection to professional football knows that the game functions on money, and it always has. My great grandfather signed for an English side from Clyde many years ago. There was a wage cap in place in those days, so he was given the maximum wage available, however he was also given a 'job' in the Chairman's factory, and a wage with it. So was my great grandmother, neither of them ever set foot in the place though. This was commonplace in football, he only signed for them for money, there was no romance in playing part time and going down the pit the rest of the week. Things are a little different now, but I'm fairly sure most of the Hamilton side aren't born and bred Accies supporters, they'll leave and play for Motherwell or Ross County or any of Hamilton's rivals for a couple of grand more without losing a moments sleep. There is no romance there. However, on the day, I suspect every Hamilton player will be doing all they can to win and I suspect some of their supporter's will have a day dream of a trip to Hampden for the Cup Final. Their directors will also dream, however they'll be happier knowing they'll have some extra money coming in, and I suspect they'd be even happier if an away tie had made the windfall ten times as much.

I hope I'm wrong but I've a feeling the board is more concerned with appeasing supporters than attacking the mendacity of the media or the football authorities. I'm not holding my breath.

Since no-one is in the preview list ... The Scottish Premiership Ibrox Stadium Rangers FC vs St. Mirren FC Referee - Nick Walsh Assistants - Alan Mulvanny and Graeme Leslie Fourth Official - Steven Kirkland Missing - Filip Helander (foot), Alfredo Morelos (suspended), James Tavernier (infection), Greg Stewart (calf), Glenn Middleton (foot) LIVE on RTV, KO 7.45

Forget the 3 points and play some attractive football! League titles are overrated anyway!

Number 1 priority is 3 points. Performance comes 2nd. PS. I f**king hate the Winter Break

A Wednesday night in January, against footballing riff riff like St Mirren, is unlikely to see a feast for the purist. So any win, howsoever achieved, will do me fine.

There's little to prove. I believe in the spirit of football and sporting tradition.

Another great performance by Barasic tonight. MOTM by a long way, in my opinion.

I think Gerrard will relieved that he has one game less to play with no Morelos and Tavernier. We are without our top scorer and second top assisted for these games and it won’t be easy.

Feeling worried

I think we are missing Tavernier and Morelos’s badly here. To be honest I think we are even missing Patterson.

This is incredible. 10 guys parked on the edge of the 18 yard box, strikers falling over every time a ball is humped up to them and every single one of them taking as long as humanly possible to take every single throw-in, free kick and goal kick they are awarded.

Yes unlimited subscription and you need to use a VPN

The stated goals on the c1872 website are as follows: Make significant, direct financial contributions to the rebuilding of Rangers Football Club through upcoming share issues. Gain more direct influence over decision making at Rangers Football Club through securing a place for Club 1872 on the RIFC Plc board. Maintain/grow our shareholding in Rangers International Football Club Plc. Initiate significant, supporter driven projects (eg. safe standing). As a member I think they have made positive strides towards those goals. Success in these goals moves their board to working closely with the club on a number of levels. Where our goals are the same or similar to the club, this approach works. If they are to move away from those goals to a more campaign or issue based organisation, then I think that would call into question the apparent cosyness of its relationship with the club. I will be interested to see how the various nominees for election to the c1872 board plan to address this as I think we need to remain vigilant and able to hold the club to account, should the need arise.

''Sectarian mob attack Separate Entity FC fans outside camp knew''................can just see the headlines!!

The point of another statement is that the board said there would be one. It's a matter of trust and integrity between the club and its supporters.

We need a good hard ticket in the middle of the park someone who can put it about a bit .fairly and squarely

MEGALOLZ I'm quoting this only to ensure that the appeal to "position paper" authorship is preserved.

Been to many Scottish Cup matches recently, JFK?

You can write endless paragraphs trying to justify it but it's just plain wrong. Football has been ruined enough by money men without supporters backing their nonsense.

How many times have you watched your goal back? About a million. And i'm sure he has been watching it over. I didn't score it and I have lost count of how many times i have watched it. And here it is again. Video primed to start at the goal.

So taking them 1 at a time, what's the significance of those stats? All of the below excludes OF games and assumes current form to date will continue.

Except they actually aren't ignorant of that - why you may ask ? Quite simple really.... they weren't the first name drawn out of the hat - the romance of the cup is a minnow being drawn at home to a giant - Stranraer weren't drawn at home to us. I'll willingly bet you a cyber pint that if the draw had been made and was Stranraer v Rangers rather than Rangers v Stranraer that the game would have been played at Stair Park and not Ibrox. Not a chance would Stranraer have even requested to play the game at Ibrox rather than Stair Park. Kind of negates your argument right there, IMHO of course.

Their chairman's tweet, which was clearly intended in humour, does not represent the entire club and fanbase, despite you attempting to suggest otherwise. Your original point about switching venues was in relation to a top flight club, not Stranraer. Your idea would render the cup even more top heavy, with smaller clubs having far less chance of making it to the latter stages - which would demean the whole thing considerably.