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Presentation Over Content? I have attended a few dozen Club AGMs over the decades. Mostly, I have departed the venue thinking the event was a triumph of presentation over content; particularly during David Murray's tenure. Yesterday, I sat in the Auditorium accompanied by a calmness. The ambient blue light occasionally reflecting the lustre of the SPFL trophy. Pre-event, the lobby whispers were low and the sipped tea served to sharpen appetites for a Presentation confirming our return. The Hall was two thirds full, the empty seats were filled with contentment. The Blazers at the top table are largely the same as us, born and bred Rangers supporters. That's the end of the cheese, Rangers supporters have demands. The AGM began with a 10 minute video presentation of last season's Premiership goals. Next up was the the Company Secretary, James Blair. He introduced the Board and attending Advisors. He then ran through proposals, re-elections and, voting procedure. He handed over to Club Chair, Douglas Park who welcomed all and noted the attendance of the Premiership trophy. Managing Director, Stewart Robertson gave a short summation of the last year and current situation. He introduced Gio van Bronkhurst to loud acclaim. The next twenty-five minutes were taken up by Nick Thomson inviting Stewart Robertson, Ross Wilson and, James Bisgrove to sit beside the Premiership trophy stage left. The settee and lounge chair were filled and a relaxed discussion ensued reference Club finance, marketing and commercial activity, European Coefficient, Pitch, training ground and, contracts. Each were quietly, matter of fact impressive. Robertson emphasised the Club's Euro progress from 216th position to 41st. Further, the Club had contributed considerably in taking the National Euro position to ninth. Bisgrove extrapolated on the kit deal being worth £7-£9 million next year and Commercial activity growing up to £27 million as a new normal. Further, he claimed Rangers TV's revenue had grown 100%. Wilson talked about Gerrard's departure and claimed to be ready for it, van Bronkhurst's appointment within the week would suggest he was on the front foot. Robertson addressed the £7.5 million needed to finish the season, already raised and expects a small end of season profit. Nitty gritty issues ensued, all lifts at the Stadium were being renewed at the cost of £1 million. The kitchens catering for in excess of 2,000 hospitality customers were over 25 years old and along with all Stadium toilets would be replaced next. Academy has been improved, new Coaches appointed. Medical and Sports Science improved too, brought up to English Premiership standard. The women and girls side of operations has been made full time professional, it's important not an exercise in box ticking. Robertson finished with an update on New Edmiston House. The metal framework is currently being raised, and a new Manager, David Pyatt has been appointed to ensure it opens Autumn'22. The space will be big enough to host AGMs, Concerts, Dinners, functions, ..... etc. There will be a Museum and a two tier retail outlet. On match days, it will be the basis for a family match day zone. The current club shop will be converted into a Sports Bar and again be part of the FanZone plan. Bisgrove ended with notes on Club Partnerships, £3 million this year, will be a comfortable £7 million next year and, still room for growth. Wilson expanded upon Contracts, relaxed about reviewing older player contracts at the end of the season, non contributors will be allowed to leave and, there is a set wage structure that will NOT be broken. James Blair then moved the AGM to questions from the floor, there were more than a dozen but I will concentrate on the four most important. George Hoggin on a Club'72 proxy asked about loans secured against the Edmiston Club and rate of interest? John Bennet answered - £13 million in new loans secured at 6%, we were paying Dave King 8% and, others have offered between 9% and 13%(these have not been taken up) because the 6% coupon is now the benchmark. The Board have driven down the cost of funding. Eddie Simpson representing the Blind Party made two points, firstly because of Covid the Party has been moved from behind the dug-outs and has been subsequently separated. Secondly, the Blind Party no longer received Away tickets. Robertson promised a solution would be found for the first but the second was dependent upon away clubs. The Rangers Blind Party emanates from Bill Struth's time as an Officer in the RAMC, his decade of rehabilitation work with veterans after WW1 included introduction of Blind Party Commentators. The Blind Party are a much valued part of the Rangers Family, every accommodation should be made. David Ferguson asked about the Ticket Office, pointed out it was often closed and most queries go unanswered. Robertson accepted it was verging on shambolic and a new Customer Service Manager with improved accompanying software was necessary immediately. Stated it was now a priority. Charlie Murray from Linwood made the most heartfelt plea. He related the experience of being a disabled Rangers fan, the facilities are disgraceful, sight lines appalling, positions open to the elements, if rain is predicted some do not trap due to flooding, ..................... finished by stating, "I made the very same complaint three years ago". Robertson accepted all points, Park intervened stating the issue had been widely discussed ay yesterday's Board meeting. An assurance was given, necessary improvements will be made soonest. The facilities for disabled Rangers supporters should be the best in the world, they are fellow Rangers supporters and most deserving. Time for the fans in the Stands to grasp this nettle, starting Saturday. There was a final question from an anonymous chap grabbing the mike. He made the point Rangers are held to a different standard by the general media and had a pop at Humza, James Dornan and, Susan Aitken. All perpetrators in, 'tell a lie often enough' -this brought a reply from David Graham, "all we want is balance and fairness, we take a long term approach, more scalpel than chainsaw". The AGM concluded.

In two league fixtures this season between Rangers and Hibs, Ryan Porteous has been the difference. I wonder if Irvine Welsh is reaching for his machete? We should be told.

Pleased to hear that facilities for disabled supporters is to be prioritised at last. The present wheelchair allocation is a disgrace.

I'm actually in the office tomorrow and I'm going to inform the Leith tramps (there's a few) that Beaton is handy with a handshake and was told to give a late penalty to us. 🤣

I don't think it was a penalty.

Tom English on BBC "Ryan Porteous has done something pretty stupid. He's prone to doing that, particularly against Rangers. He's cost Hibs again tonight"

First domestic clean sheet in 9 attempts.

He's a debauched looking bastard, that Hibs' manager.

I hope a sense of negativity doesn't develop towards Dave King. Whatever he does to protect his personal interests, which he is entitled to pursue, his role in the club's recovery is clearly established and the least we owe him for that is respect.

Sounds like a problem from seasons gone by. We already have a solution to it anyway. When we want more in attack we swap a defensive midfielder for an attacking one. Consider Davis out for Arfield against Livingston.

John Sillett, former manager of Coventry City, also died today making it a very sad day for football. What he did for Coventry in the 1987 FA Cup was amazing and I am sure he will never be forgotten by the club's fans.

Your opinion, Stato, and you're entitled to it. But I don't agree. For me, we can do a lot better. We didn't play high enough, we weren't making the right decisions, gave the ball away too often, were too slow, and we were lucky to come away with 3 points. Of course, the result is great, 3 points and puts pressure on them tomorrow. But, again, surprised that you thought our performance was so complete.

Astonishing there’s any debate about the penalty. Stonewaller in my book.

Cue: three days of 'Porteous - victim' in all organs of the Scottish media.

The feeling of negativity has already been developed, from his misleading (at best) comments in trying to encourage fans to invest in the C1872 share issue rather than allowing their funds to go to the club, to charging interest on his loan (I'm not convinced he had to do that), to him now trying to limit the club's ability to raise further funds. That doesn't take away everything that he's done for the club, for which we will always be grateful, and yes, he's now entitled to pursue his personal interests but when they are against the best interest of the club then we are, in turn, entitled to criticise him.

This removes an attacker in favour of playing 3, sometimes 4, fullbacks. Why do people imagine that this would help with anything?

He came to Liverpool as a striker and was initially a bit disappointing in that role, especially when compared with John Toshack. Bob Paisley turned him into one of the best midfielders in Europe and, according to Paisley, was the player who attracted most interest from continental clubs. I saw most of his games at Anfield and, once he had settled in, I don't think I saw him have a bad game. He was a lot more consistent than the more glamourous players, Dalglish and Souness, and was highly influential in the success that Liverpool had during his time at the club.

Right, time to relax and watch Farage’s interview with The Donald

A hard diver?

Some of their play acting was comical. Can someone tell Porteous you're either a hard man or a diver - you can't be both. 🤣

Man, that was some brutal stuff at times. Simplest passes go astray like you would expect on plastic pitches, people losing the ball and no composure and/or too much trickery at times. A typical game where our DMs passed the ball between one another yet hardly went forward, while Aribo and Kent worked about, but once more with no end product whatsoever. 3 points, hopefully a lesson learned and onwards we soldier ...

Love that replay with McGinn and Porteous greeting at the ref.

All their songs are about us. Cretins.

I'd like to see more of Aribo on the left, Hagi in the middle and Kent on the right.

Morelos is very lucky to be starting ahead of Sakala at the moment.

Kent and Barisic have been awful.

Been looking forward to this game with real optimism but that's somewhat tempered after seeing Davis and Kamara in midfield, which is a recipe for slow tempo. Either one or the other but never both. I hope they prove me wrong but I'd keep Arfield warmed up and make an early change if needed.

I'm a bit bemused by Arfield being in the bench too, he's really lifted the team in recent games.

Yes, all league games are on RangersTV (outside UK)

Always feel sorry for the managers getting dragged to these , they sit there wishing they could be anywhere else , and given that he’s just in the door I thought it would have been better use if his time to be on the training ground . Also dont understand where the “£7.5 million required has already been met “ statement , has now developed into , its been covered by the investors , that wasn’t my hearing or understanding , but could be wrong , I was too busy keeping Brahim Hemdani in check lolololol

I didn't say no one should criticise him. His entanglement with the dubious Club1872 is something I've openly criticised. All I said was he deserves to be treated with respect for the good things he undoubtedly did for Rangers, the best of which was to hand over the reins in an orderly manner.

He and his brother Peter played over 360 games for Chelsea between them and both won a first division winners medal in 1954. Sadly missed the both.

Go fifty-fifty with him.

If he brings in Big Sam, he'd get lynched.

Agreed, but the board made similar noises 2 years ago, and there's been no progress, but other (vanity) projects such as Edmiston House have got off the ground. Everyone, anyone?

It's disappointing that King is trying to limit the club's ability to raise funds.

Safe standing is a luxury item. Decent disabled facilities are an absolute necessity and the club should e judged on its willingness to value its disabled supporters. By the sounds of it, this is now at least accepted by the board. On a brighter note, who thought during the dark days that we would ever again get to the stage when the support had respect for the directors?

Clearly it wouldn't. Most of our problems lately have stemmed from the wrong player trying to do the right things ... or the right player doing the wrong things.

Perhaps it is a reasonable compromise. If we were to do it do it with a sweeper. I used to play lee sharpe at sweeper in champ man italia 94 and wow did it work.

I noticed this but I would never describe it as playing 3 at the back.

Nuffink for nuffink here, And precious little for sixpence. But I feel lucky, so if you would be so kind.........

Hate it with a passion.

We don't have 2 CH never mind 3. It's also a dead formation for dinosaurs.