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This morning I am reliably informed a fourth question has been sent by letter to Gerry Braiden. A chap who knows his marine engineering, Dan MacPhail kens what should go roon'n'roon as opposed to up'n'doon, is willing to serve as Engineering Officer on the MV Glen Sannox. Dan has asked Gerry if the MV Glen Sannox which was launched over two years past by the First Minister, is available to sail to Algeciras, southern Spain? Dan sees no major problems in the state of the art technology currently aboard the vessel, painted on windows and cardboard funnels are assets in these days of biodiversity. Dan has a few mates, a Deep Water Skipper with decades of experience in Clyde estuary trade, a First Mate named, Dougie and, a melodeon playing Deckie, Sunny Jim. The cargo is a thousand Rangers supporters intent upon attending the Europa League Cup final in Seville. The appeal includes a gesture of goodwill, both the First Minister and Glasgow City Convenor are invited with spouses to sail on the vessel's maiden voyage. Peter Murrell and Gordon Archer are Happy Hibees and most creative. Peter ring fenced £620,000 of raised funds whereas, Gordon utilised technical difficulties to withdraw two six figure sums from a soon to be bankrupt company where he was a Director. These sums could prove crucial in any negotiations with Barbary Pirates. Now, I hear you say there are outfitting problems on the Glen Sannox ie no seating. Dan has asked Gerry if GCC can spare any of the newly provided and paid for benches from George Square? Further, Susan Aitken has been asked for an assurance that she will NOT swim alongside the vessel, as this will be deemed a hazard to navigation. Any Gersnetters wishing to participate in this buckling your swash adventure, Phil McFournames is taking even more names as of Noon tomorrow.

Is that not a parody/fake?

To those going to the game, it would be best to take a powerbank with you so that you can recharge your phone during the day. You don't want to turn up at the ground with no charge in your phone and not get in.

We have limited resources my arse , listen to SRs presser today, this run has brought in more than if we had qualified fir rhe C/L group stages , his words not mine , add in Gerrard and staff compo plus Pattersons transfer fee , most of which was paid upfront. Fans would gladly have paid to get into Ibrox .The costs would have been easily covered.

The sequel to the Road to Manchester all those years ago. Feel free to share and spread. Password: rangers https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8argp7 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i8Ok9G1A8gxZqK_wlV1k6_Kt4mly_t1B/view?usp=sharing A poished up version and a condensed version will come over the next week or so.

A bump for this excellent contribution!

I don't think he was entirely honest. I think they could if they wanted, they just don't want to. Its not like James Bisgrove to not maximise a commercial opportunity like this. Even if he has to outsource the implementation and execution.

There are some suggestions today that Rangers have requested use of a stadium in Seville and that's been granted so we're devoting all resources to organising that. As such, that perhaps explains Robertson's comments. That doesn't mean fans at home should be ignored though. Like I say, provisional planning for all this could have been in place at least a month ago.

It's related to media stuff - not football, the professor insists on social media.

You know it wouldn't interest me either to be honest but I can understand why many would like it. It's the usual executive fob off with no explanation or minimal effort to understand why 2008 didn't work and improve that frustrates me.

There is no reason why Rangers couldn't have provisionally prepared for this a month ago at a minimal cost of existing staff time. Catering, security and other services are already outsourced to staffing an event is simple. Sourcing extra screens should also be simple. Carefully vetting supporters by restricting the event to season ticket holders is also simple. Bringing in an external company to project manage is simple. Charging interested supporters to recoup any costs and perhaps even make a small profit is something that could have been explored. Yes there are other factors at play - policing and political to name just two - which might have concerned the board in a PR sense. I understand that but that's something we should also be able to anticpate and deal with by now. But we know they struggle with that so what's new? All in all, why anyone would want to suggest this is difficult and/or not question why we can't mirror what other clubs are doing seems strange...

The last place I'd want to watch the game would be on screens at Ibrox I've heard 2008 wasn't that great with little atmosphere, the natural delay in the broadcast and various other issues, and no alcohol.

utterly pathetic from rangers and very much in line with the boards utter contempt for the fans

RAB goes Rabid. In the period this thread has been running, BBC Scotland and their employees have issued close to a dozen apologies to Rangers and Rangers supporters. I suspect they are fed up going cap in hand to the Great Satan, it is not a good look. They have reigned in the worse aspects, not sitting as comfortably with their preferred prejudices these days. Fellow Gersnetters do not fret, given the opportunity PQ will still spit the venom. Rangers achieving a Europa League Cup final has been decreed NOT an opportunity, yet. As stated, RAB Cosgrove's first reaction, actually his first broadcastable reaction to Rangers achievement is to state, "Rangers qualifying for the Europa League Cup final is not good news for Scottish football". Carrying the Scottish standard for four years, singularly raising the coefficient to allow the League Champions, Sellik automatic entry to the Champions League group stages, allowing third placed, Hearts automatic Europa League group stage entry and, ensuring fourth placed, Motherwell have Euro Conference group stage entry; is all trumped by Rangers earning Euro monies that take us further away from all Scottish clubs other than Sellik. Rangers are creating disparity. RAB does not want Rangers to triumph in Seville and, he wraps up this principle of rivalry for presentation but, it's just HATRED. We know this because RAB has a Podcast, 'Talk Media'. There was a period of a decade where PQ allowed RAB and Eamonn O'Neill to appear on John Beattie's lunch time show to spout their take on various media stories and the Scottish take but, over a couple of years past, they discontinued the overbearing Nationalistic propaganda. RAB and Eamonn took it to Podcast and another PQ stalwart, Janice Forsyth Produces it. I urge no Gersnetter pays for this Podcast, we find out quickly enough when RAB sticks it on his fellow wrong type of Scots. Michael Stewart's apology to Jim Traynor, Rangers and, Rangers supporters has hurt RAB. He is smarting and his analysis of the affair castigates BBC Scotland, "There is a degree of sensitivity around Rangers that no other Scottish club enjoys". Apparently the dark shadow of the Masonic hand stretches further, "we've arrived at a moment when large sections of the Scottish media are frightened of them". The architect of this great threat to the fourth estate is David Graham. Now, RAB does not mention him by name, he talks about, "a significant employee with Loyalist credentials". Apparently he has convinced the club, " to ignore the issue of doubt by convincing the club to release another orange strip". RAB's disappointment will be further deepened since Rangers are playing the final in all blue and, not in Seville bitter orange. Let's go back a decade, happier days for RAB. Regularly, he would get all Phil McFournames, you know make stuff up. He told of three Rangers supporting pals who attended all games, they decided to no longer attend because Rangers were not the same club. So much so, they all gave up their season tickets. I do not know of any Rangers supporter aping this behaviour but RAB knows three? When we received our License from the SFA, RAB predicted Rangers would return to the Premiership from League 2 obscurity. We would arrive and regularly play in front of 6,000 to 8,000 supporters at Ibrox because the vast majority of our support being glory hunters would fall away? you can see how Rangers European achievement causes RAB to wrestle with angst. Those days of introducing Rangers supporting guests as, "Chris Connor the H-u-n with a heart" and bellowing inquiries, "can you spot a handsome H-u-n" are gone and RAB in his eighth decade is pining for nostalgia. On the 25th of this month at Glasgow University, RAB has an opportunity to relive the good old days of the Rangers Tax Case Blog. Professor Raymond Boyle Chairs a debate afternoon in the Davidson building between 2pm and 4pm - those participating are Roger Mitchell, RAB Cosgrove, Jim Spence, Kevin McKenna, Graham Spiers, David Low and, Alan Burrows. You have to register if you wish to attend. Further, they are sure there will be some Haters? Looking at that list, how could they possibly squeeze in another Hater? I hope Gio traps accompanied by the Europa League Cup.

A brilliant 4000 word long read from @Rick Roberts. Check it out on our main site as the length doesn't post well onto the forum.

Who is Gerry Braiden? Gerry is Policy Advisor to Glasgow City Council and Convenor, Susan Aitken's PRO. Gerry was a Journalist with the Herald for a dozen years, became their Local Government Correspondent thus seamlessly moved into his Policy Advisor role with the ruling SNP. Gerry's Twitter describes himself as, 'a Belfast Ambassador and Suburban Guerilla'. He could have been more specific, 'West Belfast Ambassador' but all those repeated photos of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and, Danny Morrison let you know anyway. Ah mean Danny Morrison? What a guy, most well known for coining the phrase, "who here in this room disagrees if the IRA take power with a ballot box in one hand and, an Armalite in the other"? Less well known is Play Write Danny's last spell in the jail was for taking a RC Pensioner to a Sinn Fein Office, tying him to a chair and, pistol whipping him. All because he refused to allow a PIRA patrol from using his house as an OP. Now, RAB Cosgrove continually tells us, "Gerry is a good friend of the show". He does appear to have a developed interest in football, his Twitter feed mentions one team a lot, guess which one? Gerry has made no Twitter reference to a Glasgow club reaching the Europa League Cup final. As Policy advisor to Glasgow City Council, surely Gerry has the foresight and penetrative thought to present options to Susan Aitken? Would gerry advise Susan travels to Seville as a representative of the peoples of Glasgow? Would Gerry advise Susan to Host a Civic Reception in the City Chambers in recognition of a Glasgow Club's achievement? Would Gerry advise the First Minister to attend Seville in recognition and support for a Scottish Club? We should be told.

You should write to the club to complain.

No access code required. You should just have offer there if ticket is available but they may all be gone now.

it is yeah

https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/supporter-update-uefa-europa-league-final/73ddJpyeUQbFJQACjQmXzM For fans in Seville without tickets: After dialogue with UEFA, Spanish Police and the local authorities, we can confirm the organisation of a fan viewing area in the Estadio La Cartuja, for those supporters without tickets. Further details will be released by the Stadium Manager in the coming days. For those with tickets: There will also be a fan meeting point in Alameda de Hércules for those supporters with a ticket for the final. There will be no public viewing of the game in the fan zone area. More information will be provided in the coming days. For UK fans: Unfortunately, Rangers will not be able to provide a matchday screening at Ibrox stadium. Whilst we understand the wish for supporters to be able to gather at our home for this momentous occasion, the club does not have sufficient staffing resources to be able to host such a large event due to the number of qualified staff and personnel required to travel to Spain to assist in the safe delivery of the final. We could not safely operate an event of this size without the presence of our safety team, all of whom are required in Spain. Given the significant UEFA regulatory demands, we are required to deploy our full safety team in Seville, given the anticipated travelling support. This was not an easy decision but it is vital we ensure the safety of the team, management and travelling support in Spain. We acknowledge and understand the disappointment and frustration of non-travelling supporters, but there was no safe way of delivering a matchday screening.

Thought I was camping in Seville mate

Show off!

Really good advice. My old man had one and I have now too. Got a taxi sorted with guys staying in Seville heading back to Faro - where Im staying - from my supporters bus too so buzzing now

They are about to be forced to accept it, very different.

I believe so. They are all through the UEFA ticket app.

Ouch! But needs must mate. It's going to be a fantastic day - just have your bail funds ready.

No, it's not the end of the world and I'm surprised people get too worked up about it but I'm going to Seville so, like Robertson, I don't care enough to worry about it...

Let's keep this discussion civil please to avoid children wasting the headteacher's time with complaints.

Not sure what that implies but, unless something unlikely happens, I think we are about to see almost everyone accept it. For what it is worth I will accept the absence of a beam back every single time that Rangers reach a European final.

I think that's one of the main problems with the club - the board and its advisors are a small group, in relation to the size of the club and support. They've taken the easy route with this one and people are just going to have to make alternative arrangements - watching it in the house or pub, with family and friends, isn't that bad, is it?

No, it's a fair comment and I don't disagree. But we should have a board and club capable of such problem solving - not to mention dealing with the authorities to ensure such trouble doesn't happen. In fact having all our fans in one venue should be a positive in that sense. All in all, if there are issues and alternatives, communicate quickly and openly. Don't fudge it and leave stuff until the last minute.

you are probably right but that's a bit pathetic from them.

I actually agree with not opening Ibrox for a beam back. I can understand why people want to go. But after the nonsense after winning the league last year in George Square and the town i think its best the club is risk averse here and tries to distance itself from any new potential opportunities for nonsense. If we were to lose its possible there may be a few supporters of other clubs who wander by to take a pop and trouble could escalate. I appreciate this may be a hot take and i put my tin hat firmly on.

Yeah but thousands want to go. 10's of thousands. The option should be there.

Wise words - I bought one during the week, with that in mind. I'd imagine most people will need their phone at the airport too and Thursday/Friday might not be us at our most 'switched on'.

@RaymondBoyle67 on Twitter, of course. Of course.

No more talk from me about this. Nothing should detract from the build up to the match.

Looks like Roofe is struggling to get fit in time for Wednesday. We really could've done with him. I'm finding it difficult to get a good night's sleep just now - can't stop thinking about the final.

Fairly recently, you will need no reminding, a well-known red topped comic did a tabloid number on a couple of fellows who contributed to a weel kent Rangers' podcast. This organ "outed" them for dodgy social media posts from some years previously. The two resigned from their roles, immediately. However, friends of the podcast, and other concerned citizens, intrigued by the odour of sanctity emanating from the rag, investigated the social media postings and posturings of a number of 'football writers' associated with it. Lo! They uncovered a veritable omnibus of of sexism, homophobia, sectarianism, and the like. Muck rakers muck raked! Much mealy mouthed talk, in print and elsewhere, ensued, but little in the way of public clamour. These writers remain employed, and if I was a betting man, I should hazard a guess that they attended the annual beano, the other night. I should hazard another guess that the 'turn' most probably tailored his script to what he understood to be his audience, or that, maybe, his booking agency put him forward, as an appropriate act, on noting that the gig was for The Scottish 'Football Writers'. I wish Eilidh Barbour well in the Augean task of redding out her profession. I know nothing of Prof. Raymond Boyle, my time at Gilmorehill being too long ago for polite company to mention, but, if one may judge a man by the company he keeps......

Done it now.

You forgot your prediction 🖐️

Who wouldn't fancy the pub!!! Although during the WC in Japan/Sth Korea a cinema in Leicster Sq did a deal with BT Broadcast Services to use HD pictures beamed back (This was in 2002 and HD was in infancy) It was surreal watching games on such a big screen with decent dolby sound. You could also take drink in, the only downside to that was it was 8.30 in the morning, but was a good experience.

That is quite the panel of mentalists

Old, pale, male, and stale.

Here is an article from today's Times, in which Tony Pulis (yes, that Tony Pulis) discusses his research into the academy system/model. Quite fortuitous, really. Tony Pulis: Most academy kids are never going to play football – not enough is done for them The former Crystal Palace and Stoke City manager tells Matt Lawton why the Premier League’s youth development system is in need of a drastic overhaul Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent Wednesday May 11 2022, 4.30pm, The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tony-pulis-most-academy-kids-are-never-going-to-play-football-not-enough-is-done-for-them-rjz2n3z6t Growing up in Newport, Tony Pulis used to love it when his dad could find the time to watch him play football. “It meant I’d get a lift home, sitting on the crossbar of his bicycle,” he says. “We never had a car.” Pulis has seen how the life of an elite young footballer has changed since then. Not just during his career as a player and then a Premier League manager, but through the generations of his own family. He watched his son, Anthony, battle through the ranks, from an apprentice at Portsmouth to a journeyman professional at 12 different clubs before making the transition into coaching. And now he is quietly tracking the progress of his grandson, a talented eight-year-old enjoying the benefits of a category one academy at a Premier League club, and a product of the Elite Player Performance Plan that was launched ten years ago to produce more home-grown players for the country’s top clubs. It is, however, a system that Pulis — who left his most recent managerial role, at Sheffield Wednesday, in December 2020 — believes is in need of a complete overhaul. As Pulis observes from the sidelines with other relatives, he marvels at the standard of the facilities and the support these kids receive. This is an under-9s match we are watching but they are playing on a pitch fit for Premier League superstars under the guidance of coaches, physiotherapists and player care officers. Kit, including boots, is among the many things that are provided free of charge. “It’s brilliant,” Pulis says. “The academy my grandson attends is terrific, it really is.” But Pulis has big concerns — not for the gifted few who eventually emerge from the system to enjoy careers as professional players, but instead for the vast majority who do not; those who at different stages of the process are discarded and suddenly have to deal with crushing rejection, the death of a dream, and often with not much of an idea about what to do next. In some cases, the scale of that disappointment has had tragic consequences. Jeremy Wisten was 16 and only months away from securing a first professional contract when he was released by Manchester City. Less than two years later, in October 2020, he took his own life. Mental health issues are commonplace, as Pulis, 64, has discovered. “I spoke to one father whose son was released at 18,” he says. “It took them two years to put him back together. He’s back on track now, and getting an education, but they lost him for a while.” As Pulis says, academy football has become an industry within an industry — a search for talent that could eventually command a sum of tens of millions of pounds. Players as young as nine now sign contracts, even though Pulis estimates that “only 0.5 per cent of the players from that age group will make a living out of the game”. Yet one top-flight club have been known to send limousines to the homes of these boys on the day they sign their contracts, giving the entire family that first taste of the jetset lifestyle they hope football can provide for them. “It’s like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory,” Pulis says. “The kids and their families are sold this dream, and I’m not sure how often they are warned about how unlikely it is that they will actually make it.” Pulis sees the commitment both the boys and their families make. Matches which fall under an Academy Games Programme that involves more than 10,000 fixtures every season can involve round trips of between 200 and 300 miles. Training takes place, even at this age, three nights a week, with matches at the weekend. When clubs distribute their academy brochures to families, some include a code of conduct for parents, and the relatives attending this match are certainly well behaved. That said, one father could be heard bemoaning his nine-year-old’s “body language” to another parent. It is when these lads get older, however, that Pulis sees serious problems. The academies require them to start missing school for what is called “day release”, with clubs providing their own schooling in classrooms at their academies. The issue with this, of course, is obvious: the lack of continuity compared with other children at their school. The Premier League delivers a formal education programme for all apprentices aged between 16 and 19 who have signed a full-time scholarship agreement at a club, with a BTEC qualification mandatory. But Pulis argues that this is hugely inadequate, and is in fact failing the scholars who may want to pursue a different form of education. The data is not readily available but Pulis has been told that by this stage the education of many of these young players has already been compromised. Statistically, young academy players achieve year six SAT scores above the national average. By 16, however, their exam results fall below that benchmark. The real challenge comes, of course, when the clubs decide to let players go. Attempts are made to relocate them to other clubs — as was done by City on behalf of Wisten — but too often these boys are in no fit state, mentally, to seize an opportunity at a lower-league club. Wisten began to struggle when he was dropped from City’s elite youth squad after suffering a knee injury. His parents tried to console him but he found it difficult to cope with the disappointment. At the time of the 18-year-old’s death, his father, Manila, said: “We told him it didn’t matter, that we were proud of him. He withdrew. He spent a lot of time in his room after that. I don’t think he ever moved on. I can only speak for my son, but I want to highlight the issue that kids in football need to be taken care of mentally.” As Pulis says, at any one time there are between 10,000 and 12,000 boys in the academy system — 3,500 in the Premier League academies alone — yet his research indicates that as many as 95 per cent of these players will not have a career in the game. The head of education at a category one academy — which are the top-ranked academies in the country — told Pulis that 78 per cent of players who turn professional at 18 are no longer playing football three years later. Another said that from 400 players who sign professional forms at 18, only eight will still be playing in the top five tiers of English football by the time they turn 22. “Having spent all my working life in the game, I have been shocked by the statistics that I have compiled through my research,” Pulis says. “Academy football gives false hope to 95 per cent of its workforce, and unfortunately it has done very little to address that. Young lads are used to service the system. Without the numbers, full-on coaching sessions could not take place, a games programme that incorporates over 90 per cent of all professional clubs could not take place, and the whole army of employed academy staff would be made redundant. “As a young lad with unlimited hopes in life, the dream of becoming a professional football player is just so special. The opportunity given through the academy system drives his and his family’s hopes of achievement. Lads will spend year after year dreaming of that day, but 95 per cent of those lads will never experience that joy. In fact for most, the experience of total rejection and despair will be felt.” It has led Pulis to draft a proposal he has already taken to the Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) — one that involves the formation of a dual-scholarship programme overseen by an independent body, funded by the Premier League, that focuses only on the education of the players in preparation for an alternative career. Pulis has spoken to schools, colleges and universities that would happily go into partnership with such a scheme — including colleges in the United States — to provide an education for these players as well as a games programme that could become a springboard back into professional football. After all, some boys will develop later than others. The UK, says Pulis, would be divided into six regions, with regional directors and teams of mentors dispersed to work with the young players at different clubs. They would assist players and their families in tailoring an education for the individual, while also making sure that the required standards are met. “If they are going to demand that commitment of players and their families, then football has got to provide some kind of a safety net,” Pulis says. “And the safety net is an education; a bespoke education that can lead to an alternative career. Some boys might not be academic. They could be better suited to a more vocational course. It would be the job of the mentors to help determine that.” Pulis explains why he is so motivated to implement change. “It’s only since my grandson has gone into an academy that I’ve really started to pay attention to just how big that part of the football industry has become,” he says. “In many ways it is better than it was before. But in certain areas I don’t think it is doing enough. “My concern is around the balance with the educational side. And my concern is about the amount of sacrifice the parents are making. A lot of parents will see all this and start to dream of their lads one day becoming a professional. They will be bowled over by everything. That’s fine for the players who come through; the five per cent. It’s a fantastic profession, one that has given both me and my family a great life. “But the statistics show that most of these kids are never going to play football, and not enough is being provided for them. “The system makes massive demands on families. The kids will see less of their friends, the parents might devote more time to this one child than their other kids. The travelling and time that is involved. There’s a big sacrifice that is made. I want these dual scholarships to support these lads even after they have been released. “The academies are first class. I’m not sure there are better facilities anywhere in the world. But any one club can have as many as 250 boys in their academy and the majority will be working for the elite minority. Everyone knows that.” Pulis has spent the best part of a year conducting his research and drafting his proposal. “I’ve spoken to lots of relevant people,” he says. “It can be devastating for a boy and his family when he is rejected. Some of these boys will feel they have let down their families. For some it might have been seen as a way out of poverty. It can affect the parents, siblings. It can lead to the horror stories we sadly hear about. “I’ve spoken to universities and colleges who would love to have these kids. There is a solution here, and I’ve presented my proposal to both the PFA and the Premier League. I’m now waiting to see how they respond but I hope they are receptive. I hope they understand where I am coming from. I hope they can see it from the point of view of the parents and families.” Pulis has studied the academy brochures players and their families receive, and the focus is very much on the success stories rather than what, for most of them, will be the grim reality of failure. Such brochures advise parents how to secure day release from their son’s school, highlighting the wonderful opportunity they have. And while there are references to the support they can provide should a player be released, it tends to focus more on trying to find an alternative club. Further to that, the remit of the player care teams seems to mainly concern those who are in the academy rather than those who have left. So far, only Crystal Palace have attempted to tackle the issue of supporting players after they have departed. In February they became the first top-flight club to offer a three-year aftercare programme to help scholars deal with the “trauma” of being released. They acknowledged the “sheer volume” of players who drop out, even after signing at 18. “One club,” Pulis says. “We need to see change right across the system.” Ten years of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) 0.5 per cent the proportion of under-9 players – the youngest age group – who Pulis estimates will make a living out of the game professionally 98 per cent the proportion of 16-year-olds with scholarships at all professional clubs who will either be released or who will drop out of professional football completely, according to Pulis 97 per cent of former elite academy players now aged 21-26 did not make a single Premier League appearance, according to reports this year That report stated that 70 per cent of the former academy players were not handed a professional contract at a Premier League or Football League club 72 per cent of players released from Premier League or Football League clubs surveyed last year said they felt they were not given enough support by the club after they were cut 88 per cent of players surveyed said they had experienced depression or anxiety after being released 10,000-12,000 the number of boys in football’s youth development system at any one time 3,500 the approximate number of boys in Premier League academies 250 the number of boys each Premier League club is allowed to register in their academy

To much fannying about with these competitions