BEARGER

LNS verdict: "Rangers FC is now owned and operated by Newco, which bears no responsibility for the matters for which we are concerned" LNS verdict: "in these circumstances the financial penalty lies only upon Oldco and does not affect Rangers FC under its new ownership"

Hugh MacDonald: Why does the demise or otherwise of Rangers matter so much? MARCH 26TH, 2016 - 12:03 AM HUGH MACDONALD NO COMMENTS THOSE who peer at the most-read lists on newspapers websites have regular cause for bemusement as a business story published on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, pops up frequently and with no apparent reason. The headlines seem to brook no argument. Rangers Football Club, born 1872, died 2012 states The Herald in type reserved for the notice of a deceased president. R.I.P RIFC, laments the Daily Record, adding: Taxman passes death sentence on 140 years of Rangers history. The rest of the media followed a similar template. Many bloggers, tweeters, columnists and broadcasters followed the same line. Screenshots of their tweets, snapshots of their columns, quotes from their blogs endure to this day in the quasi eternal world that is the internet. This is to the embarrassment of some of the authors. It is why they are recycled endlessly, it is why concerted clicks make the headline of that June day soar up the most-read lists. The death or otherwise of Rangers remains an extraordinarily contentious issue almost four years after it was declared unambiguously in the press. So what happened? And why? First, it must be stated that this is not an essay on whether Rangers died. This is not an avoidance of the issue, merely a realisation that all arguments have been made and the two camps remain resolute in their beliefs. One year ago, a group of Celtic fans bought advertising space to proclaim Rangers as a new entity. It is accurate to stay that this view did not sway the mass of Rangers supporters. Today, as the Rangers v Celtic Scottish Cup semi-final approaches with all the menace of a runaway train packed with TNT, the precise existential status of a football club is argued with references to such sources as company law, UEFA, SFA, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations. The very term Old Firm is now an indicator of where one stands in terms of the status of the Ibrox club. How old can a firm be when one club was only formed in 2012, runs one argument. It is the same Rangers, just a different holding company, insists the counter argument. It is a volatile, dangerous subject. Journalists are assailed if any indication is given that they favour either argument. This has bred a culture where the subject is rarely discussed, barely examined. But if it is futile to construct an argument that would convince those on either side, it is surely intriguing to look at why it matters. And it does to a significant proportion of the Scottish football world. It is noteworthy first to state that this is not purely a Rangers v Celtic dispute. A friend conducting a seminar in Aberdeen was chastened by the response he received to a casual mention of the Old Firm. “There is no Old Firm,” he was informed by a succession of audience members with Aberdonian accents. The “Rangers died” camp is a broad church that can be heard in song at many Scottish football stadiums. Second, it is hardly enlightening to state that it matters because each faction believes it is stating the truth. This upholding of the beautiful principle of veracity is heart-warming but both sides cannot be right and they may have motives that are beyond the tireless search for truth. So what keeps this debate on the boil? Many of those who state Rangers are a new club are driven by a desire to seek retribution from a club/company/institution that went bust owing the taxman at least £20m. This is a historic issue. The feckless, reckless reign of Sir David Murray garnered extraordinary success on the playing field for Rangers. But their extravagant spending was not only questioned, it was the cause of deep, enduring resentment. This takes the conversation dangerously close to the treacherous waters marked with a warning buoy on which the letters EBT are marked. Suffice to state that Rangers’ spending separated the Ibrox club in terms of budget from other Scottish teams and this has caused a disaffection that has not closed in the years of administration and then liquidation. There is a need for many to be seen to have punished Rangers. Entry into the SPFL, albeit at the lowest level, simply does not satisfy those appalled or secretly delighted by the machinations of Sir David and then Craig Whyte. This is where the influence of non-Celtic supporters is at its most visible. The fate of new Rangers/same Rangers in being admitted to the third division was influenced by directors and fans far from the East End of Glasgow. There was an element in Scottish football, widespread in geographical terms and disparate in allegiances to varying clubs, who simply would not tolerate Rangers playing in the top division or the Championship. There was, too, a strong reaction to what was seen as “Rangers arrogance”. The Rangers descent into liquidation was greeted with deep satisfaction and even joy by non-Celtic supporters. The institution that had been styled as the “establishment team”, the perennial winners now had to be – at the very least – dragged into a world where reality bit severely and with consequent pain. Partly, too, this is why the new club narrative has continued. Again, there are those who believe they are merely stating the truth but there others who revel in the angst it causes Rangers fans. And why does a substantial section of the Ibrox support bridle at any suggestion that they are following a new club? Their answer, again, would be that they are simply adhering to a truth. But there are deeper reasons. The allegiance to a club is more than a matter of attending a match. It is part of one’s identity, particularly in Scotland. How often, for example, is a person described in terms of football. “You know, Jimmy. A big Rangers man.” This identity, too, has little to do with sporting matters. It becomes part of who one is, even what one believes or stands for in political or cultural terms. Whatever the existential state of their club, Rangers fans have seen a dreadful erosion of their favourites that is only being repaired now. In business terms, they have watched as new custodians burned through tens of millions in cash after a rights issue. They have howled at annual meetings at Ibrox as they watched their club lurch towards another financial crisis. This, too, at a club that was once regarded as the richest, the most powerful in Scotland, the board that could spend a tenner to Celtic’s fiver. The world of employment has also changed. The men who once stood on the Ibrox terraces had trades or professions and the reality of full employment. Manufacturing - of ships or of steel or of much else – has gone, leaving its scars of unemployment or its apprehension of short, precarious contracts. There is no certainty, either, in the political era. Rangers are viewed as a unionist club and certainly many of their supporters loudly proclaim allegiance to a United Kingdom. The inexorable drift towards devolution of a profound shade or even independence has thus left a substantial section of their support in a Scotland that seems to be changing in ways they resist or, at least, find unappealing. Everyone clings to matters of identity when the outside world is changing in ways one finds distasteful. It is little surprise then that any depiction of their club as something arriviste or without history has the capacity to wound. Their adherence to the “same club” narrative is challenged insistently but their belief is not sustained solely by recourse to UEFA rulings or interpretations of judges’ comments or company law. This is, in essence, an emotional issue. It is thus no surprise that the proposed single body of Rangers supporters is called Club 1872, invoking the year of foundation. The rivals will insist this is mere wishful and misguided thinking. The Rangers support will say otherwise. But it is about more than a date, more than history. It is about the culture of the present. It is about how people see themselves and an institution they love. It is why Rangers remains a matter of life and death, at least in terms of an argument that shows no signs of abating.

You will not be disappointed.

A player who bet against us.

Aye and we had one group of fans singing his praises.

This guy from Livingston ? http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/503328/Manchester-United-consider-new-bid-Livingston-striker-Matthew-Knox

The Glasow Merchants Charity cup semi finals in 1958 and 1960 were also decided by toss of coin. Rangers won both. Masonic penny used both times!!

That first photo is not from 1929-30. It's either 1958 or 1960,

RANGERS need just eight more points to lift the Championship title and earn promotion back to the top flight of Scottish football. With second-placed Falkirk sitting on 61 points, and third-placed Hibs sitting on 55 points with two games in hand over Falkirk, the highest points tally either side can reach is 79. Despite a close-fought battle for most of the season, Alan Stubbs' Hibs currently sit the same distance from fifth place and falling out of the play-offs as they do from top spot in the Championship, with a 17-point gap separating the Easter Road side from both Morton and Rangers. Rangers, despite their 3-2 defeat to Falkirk on Friday night, sit on 72 points and can take the title providing they win their next three games. image: http://i4.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article7568753.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/JS85166428.jpg Rangers manager Mark Warburton at training That means that the earliest Rangers can win the title will be Tuesday, April 5 against Dumbarton at Ibrox. Mark Warburton's men face Queen of the South on Saturday hoping to bounce back from the defeat to Falkirk, and start their run towards clinching the title. A trip to Raith Rovers is sandwiched between the two matches and with the Kirkcaldy club attempting to seal a play-off spot, a potential banana skin awaits at Starks Park. Winning the title against Dumbarton could start off a huge couple of weeks for Rangers, with Warburton's side involved in the Petrofac Training Cup final against Peterhead the following Sunday, before a mouth-watering Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic a week later. But the Ibrox club might not be the first side to win a league title in Scotland, with Dunfermline able to reach 75 points, one point more than second-placed Peterhead can accumulate, and win League One by April 2, three days before Rangers could potentially clinch the second-tier title.

Rangers' final home game of the Championship season has had the details confirmed, and the Livingston game has been organised. Beginning with the final Ibrox encounter of the Championship season, we host Alloa Athletic on home soil on Saturday April 23 and the game has been given a 12.30pm kick off slot. With Livingston set originally for Saturday April 16, the game was postponed owing to our involvement in the Scottish Cup semi final. Following discussions the game has been re-set for Tuesday April 26 and taking place ten days later at the Tony Macaroni Arena, it will now kick off at 7.45pm. It means Rangers end the 2015-16 season with back to back away games, with Alloa at home as above on April 23, and then Livington followed by St Mirren on April 30.

i agree with that, but it's also reasonable to piont out that our central defence duo are not good enough for us to challenge for the title next year. The Falkirk game was further evidence of that.

That may be true or not. But I can remember a Rangers team that went from poor to bloody awful in a short space of time, not that far back either.

You could have a point there. How Clark managed to score so often with QOS I'll never know.

Don't think it's drama queen behaviour to say that the second half was a very poor performance from us. Some players seemed to think it was all over. Personally I have not been happy with our two central defenders, I just don't think they will be good enough for next season. Having said that we will canter to the title this year.

Certainly should bring some fans (and players) back down to earth. Our central defenders will just not do next season, far too lackadaisical at times will not get away with it next season.

Why the change in tactics with corners particularly in this game?

And so was that. We need to up our game, take our chances. Back down to earth with this.

Only here to see the Rangers.

Thanks will look up plgsarmy post.

By Graham Luney PUBLISHED 17/03/20161 COMMENTSSHARE Rangers hero Graeme Souness believes Neil Lennon could return to Celtic and help the Scottish giants taste more glory days. The former Northern Ireland international left struggling Championship side Bolton on Tuesday and many Hoops supporters would love to see him back at Parkhead where manager Ronny Deila's future is uncertain. Lennon guided Celtic to three Scottish League championships, two Scottish Cups and also steered the club into the group stage of the Champions League twice. Read more: Neil Lennon will be in demand despite Bolton nightmare Former Gers player-boss Souness, who was in Belfast yesterday on a tour with the European Championship trophy as a Carlsberg ambassador, believes the Lurgan man could be tempted by a return to Parkhead. "I don't see that as an impossibility," said Souness when asked if he could see Lennon return to the Hoops as boss. "Neil had such a good time and is very popular there. "I was speaking to him this week and I said to him that although he might not feel it now, he will be richer for the experience he gained at Bolton. Read more: Souness tips his old club Liverpool to finish the job "It can help him be a better manager. "Next time he should show more diligence and do a bit more homework on what job he takes." “Anyone would have been doomed taking charge of Bolton but the Celtic job will interest him.” Should Celtic lose to Rangers in next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final, Deila’s position would become even more vulnerable but Souness expects him to pass that test. Read more: “I’m delighted that Rangers are in the semi-finals but I just hope that Celtic do not embarrass them,” added the former Scotland skipper. “From the top league to the next division down there is always a big jump. Rangers are flying but Celtic are the best team in Scotland and I just hope it’s a competitive game.” The Belfast Telegraph revealed that Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill is a leading candidate should the Hoops hotseat become vacant and Souness added: “The job Michael has done for Northern Ireland has been outstanding. I would struggle to even name many of their players with Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty two stand-out performers. “But he has galvanised this group of players and they have qualified for the Euro 2016 finals which is a hard thing to do. They weren’t in an easy group and only lost once to Romania so it’s a tremendous achievement. “There’s always a temptation to say it’s all about the players but given the standard of the players he has had to work with, this has to be about the manager and I very rarely say that.” O’Neill’s troops will not adopt a ‘making up the numbers’ mentality in France and Souness has backed them to ruffle a few feathers. “With the Northern Irish fighting spirit they will be a handful for all their opponents,” added Liverpool legend Souness. “It’s not impossible for them to win a game even though they have difficult matches against Poland, Ukraine and Germany. They’ve got to show what they can do and make the fans proud.” Northern Ireland’s dangerman Kyle Lafferty, who hit seven goals in the qualifying campaign, has become a frustrated spectator at Norwich City — starved of first-team action – but Souness says the Fermanagh man must earn the faith of manager Alex Neil. “Kyle has got to make sure he does a lot more in training,” he added. “He’s got to put the work in and make sure he’s sharp for the Euros. He’ll need to get up to speed as quickly as possible.” Souness and his Scottish comrades enjoyed many feisty battles at Windsor Park but the British Home Championship was kicked into touch after Northern Ireland were crowned winners in 1984. “There’s that much emphasis on the Premier League now and that much money involved that it’s not a tournament that has appeal,” he added. “Unfortunately for Northern Ireland and Wales, it would be all about Scotland and England if that format was ever rekindled.”

Seems a bit strange to me (if I'm reading this correctly) that ordinary £10 a year members of RST will not be members of new organisation unless they pay a minimum £5 monthly subscription. Whereas someone like me who is a life member of RST will be due to paying a one off £100 years ago. Is this correct? I assume RF are also in same boat? This from proposal: "Existing RST members who are not currently paying a monthly direct debit contribution and do not hold shares through Buy Rangers will be contacted to see if they wish to join Club 1872 directly through the Club". So looks like some RST members will not be in the new organisation, not sure I get the thinking behind this. Surely we want as many fans as possible to join the new organisation ?

http://rangers.co.uk/news/club/new-founders-date-added-2/ founding_fathers_1872 Wednesday, 16 March 2016, 11:00 by Rangers Football Club THE latest date for the highly successful Founders Trail tours in 2016 has now been released for fans to book on Sunday 3 April. Since 2009, over 5,000 people have made the trip around Glasgow on the Trail of our Founders and through the doors of Ibrox Stadium, many for the first time. Through the education process of the Founders Trail the objective is to safeguard our unique and wonderful Rangers story for future generations . Join us on a journey of discovery back to 1872 when The Rangers were just the dream of a group of young kids who gathered on Fleshers Haugh. They had no ball, no football kit and used a bush on the Glasgow Green as a changing room. Their Club, which they nurtured, was to become the world’s most successful and it all happened on the streets of Glasgow. Our journey takes us to the area of Fleshers Haugh where The Rangers played their first ever match, we also visit Glassford Street, Union Street, Berkeley Street, Burnbank, Kinning Park, Craigton Cemetery and many other places of interest before finishing off our day with a tour of our magnificent Ibrox Stadium. During our journey we have a 30 minute break at Partick Bowling Club which sits in the shadow of the West of Scotland Cricket Club which was the scene of the Rangers first ever Scottish Cup Final in 1877. It gives everyone a chance to unwind, grab a beer or soft drink and a bite to eat at a beautiful and historical setting. Adults: £22 Children (under 16) and Senior Citizens £16. Group discounts are available upon request. To reserve your seat just send an email to: thegallantpioneers@googlemail.com For further information phone: 0790 2855536 An insight into our research can be found here on our website: http://www.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdnttCTXIAAmo67?format=pjpg&name=large For Old Firm tickets: • Those on CCC will be allocated a ticket. • VERY Limited sale for regular ST holders (details TBC) • No public sale

Seems this is a right shambles. People on friends and family not getting tickets together, meaning kids in separate part of ground from parent.

Rangers have released goalkeeper Maciej Gostomski after only three months at Ibrox, according to reports. The Polish stopper arrived on 3 January to provide competition for places with current incumbent Wes Foderingham and last season’s No.1 Cammy Bell. His is believed to be returning to Poland after failing to break into the first-team, often struggling for a place even on the bench. The 27-year-old arrived with ambitions of becoming the No.1 but will now return home, with Rangers expected to confirm the termination of his contract, which only ran until the summer, in the next few days. Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/rangers-release-goalkeeper-maciej-gostomski-reports-1-4069834#ixzz42u6mTxPl