der Berliner

If they need money to keep the club in business, why not use the money pledged by the support? A pledge sure is no real money in the bank, but they can at least try this route and see what comes in. If anything the money can be used for the Rangers post-takeover still, if it is not needed.

Agreed, basically they are saying we will be unsellable and most likely liquidated.

They are saying that "very severe cost cutting" have to be taken, i.e. that people not agreeing to pay cuts will be released from contract. IMHO, a Rangers like they are now with a servicable debt/CVA/whatnot and team of people able to fulfill the remaining fixtures is still a better option than a liquidated Rangers with no history and three years in financial wilderness and staring at "funny" point deduction ideas from the SFA/SPL/Lawwell's cohorts.

The only 2 people so far who have acted with any decency have been Mulgrew and Leishman.

You can add ICT's "hardman" Richie Foran to that list. One of the first.

Essentially, should there be no takeover, the club will most likely be able sustain itself these next three months of the season and can then pre-sell all the players who are assets (until the transfer window opens) or send them all packing, thus streamlining it into a business that is fine financially, but horrific on the park. Not exactly the general admins main concern. Then we can sign up a couple of dozen freebies and promote the youths to have a "football team" handy.

While people can always be wary about the words of the admins, I think they made it clear that they do not want the club to fold. If that means that we send half the team packing and field youngsters from now to the end of the season, so be it. Liquidate the clubs is of nigh to no interest to all parties involved, bar Whyte (and he may get a different treatment anyways soon, it seems).

I would like to see how clubs would cope if we stopped taking the largest travelling support in the country to their grounds.

But, but, ... but if Rangers drop out of the title picture, you know, fans would suddenly sense that there is more competition for places and the SPL suddenly becomes far more competitive and can attract better players and thus more people will flood into the grounds and the SPL will flourish! That is what will happen! Rest assured!

Now back to reality.

In this week of drama, i.e. real drama for Rangers FC, was there any need to heat up the debate and give the media more ammunition? What a silly stunt by the man harrassed for what, a dozen years by RSA's taxmen?

Here's a quick glance at what this single line just caused ...

Liquidation looms for Scottish giants IOL 14:06

Dave King fears liquidation for Rangers FC Business 14:06

Rangers liquidation 'inevitable' - director SuperSport 14:03

Gers can be saved - Murray TEAMtalk 13:59

Rangers crisis: Live updates as administrators and players reconvene for wage talks The Scotsman 13:52

Rangers director Dave King: Liquidation is inevitable Metro.co.uk 13:51

An insight into the disturbing anti-Rangers Witch-hunt. FollowFollow.com 13:45

Rangers liquidation 'inevitable', says director Emirates 24/7 13:43

Murray targets Rangers takeover BBC 13:39

Liquidations looms for Scottish giants IOL 13:39

Rangers liquidation 'inevitable': director Bangkok Post 13:34

Exclusive - Murray rubbishes claims that liquidation is inevitable for Rangers talkSPORT 13:31

Former Rangers director 'will make takeover bid for club' STV 13:31

Liquidation 'inevitable' says Rangers director Evening Echo 13:30

Rangers can't be saved, according to club director JOE.ie 13:22

Liquidation 'inevitable' for Rangers - King ESPN.co.uk 13:18

King: Rangers liquidation is inevitable Metro.co.uk 13:10

Rangers 'close to liquidation' Daily Star 13:03

Gers liquidation 'inevitable' ESPN Soccernet 12:49

Rangers quintet agree to leave club - repo… ESPN Soccernet 12:49

Dave King says liquidation of Rangers now “inevitable” The Scotsman 12:47

King: Rangers liquidation 'inevitable' Telegraph.co.uk 12:39

Stalled: Senior rebels give thumbs down to Ibrox deal as Wylde sacrifices career to aid... Creditman 12:37

Scottish News: Rangers liquidation 'inevitable' The Rutherglen Reformer, Scotland 12:36

Dave King King fears liquidation for Rangers FC Business 12:35

Gregg Wylde tells of relief at Rangers exit The Scotsman 12:35

Rangers liquidation 'inevitable' Wishaw Press, Scotland 12:27

Rangers director fears liquidation is 'inevitable' The Independent 12:25

‘Inevitable’ that Glasgow Rangers will go into liquidation,’ says club director The Irish Independent 12:23

King fears liquidation for Gers TEAMtalk 12:17

King expects Rangers liquidation Radio 1 12:16

Rangers: King expects Rangers liquidation Footymad 12:15

Rangers' Slide Into Liquidation 'Inevitable', Says Club Director The Huffington Post 12:15

Dave King statement: Read the full 1,500 words on Rangers Daily Mail 12:14

King fears liquidation for Gers Football 365 12:12

In full: Dave King statement on Rangers FC The Scotsman 12:10

Gregg Wylde relieved to leave Rangers Daily Mail 12:10

Liquidation 'inevitable' for Rangers Belfast Telegraph 12:08

Dave King says liquidation of Rangers now “invevitable” The Scotsman 12:06

Rangers latest Live Latest developments at Ibrox as administrators hold talks with... BBC Sport 12:04

Rangers director Dave King believes 'liquidation is inevitable' STV 12:03

Partick Thistle unsure on future of Rangers loanees Darren Cole & Kal... The Glaswegian 12:00

Rangers director fears the end Sky Sports 11:57

Rangers director fears liquidation of club Evening Echo 11:50

Rangers chief says club will go bust Daily Mail 11:43

Rangers Liquidation 'INEVITABLE'? Sporting Life 11:39

King expects Rangers liquidation BBC Sport 11:26

... well, well.

The administrators are the only ones making statements.

 

If there are negotiations, then there are two sides.

Yep. But the only words you can take "for granted" from the other side are direct quotes. So far, the press delivers spicy reports peppered with the odd quote here and there, but none which are actually "spicy". As I said, they have us go bananas on the basis of "our sources close to players", "claims by" and somesuch. When you look at what is actually quoted, the story is sure not as dramatic as painted. (Which is not saying that it isn't. But I for one do not jump to conclusions from press talk alone.)

Makes you wonder if the administrators are already lining their pockets and not giving much away...... These players are sacrificing huge wages in order to save others and the administrators are not giving any assurances about securing jobs! I'd be up in arms aswell if it were me!

The point is: this is what we are told by the press. Do we know whether the admins have talked to the staff at all and in any detail? I would imagine that the redundancies in that area are occuring too, but to which extent is another matter. Compared to what the players earn, the amount of money saved by making other staff redundant is probably very (as in VERY) minimal. Just MHO, of course.

To get you off the doom-and-gloom for a few moments, I again plundered FF for this story:

On This Day (March 7th)

1885 - Ayr 2 Rangers 3 (Somerville 2, untraced) - Friendly

This match was played for the Ayr Charity Cup and duly won by Rangers.

1891 - Third Lanark 0 Rangers 4 (J.McPherson, untraced 3) - Scottish League

1903 - Stenhousemuir 1 Rangers 4 (J.Robertson 2, R.C.Hamilton 2) - Scottish Cup Semi-FinalR

1908 - Kilmarnock 0 Rangers 2 (Livingstone, Smith) - Scottish First Division

1914 - Rangers 2 (Paterson, Stewart) Clyde 1 - Scottish First Division

1925 - Kilmarnock 1 Rangers 2 (Henderson, Cunningham) - Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

1928 - Hearts 0 Rangers 0 - Scottish First Division

1931 - Aberdeen 1 Rangers 3 (Smith, Archibald, Marshall) - Scottish First Division

1936 - Aberdeen 0 Rangers 1 (Turnbull) - Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

1953 - Rangers 1 (Young pen) Clyde 2 -Scottish First Division

1956 - Rangers 8 (Kichenbrand 5, Simpson 2, Scott) Queen of the South 0 - Scottish First Division

The visit of Queen of the South to Ibrox was the first time floodlights were used in a Scottish League match, and Rangers' South African centre-forward Don Kichenbrand chose the occasion to notch five of Rangers' goals. Nicknamed 'the Rhino', Kichenbrand was to finish the season Rangers' top League goalscorer with 24 to his name. The other two goals in this demolition of Queen of the South were scored by Billy Simpson (two) and Alex Scott.

1959 - Rangers 3 (I. McMillan, Scott, Murray) Clyde 1 - Scottish First Division

1964 - Rangers 2 (Forrest, Henderson) Celtic 0 - Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

1967 - Airdrie 0 Rangers 1 (D. Smith pen) - Scottish First Division

1970 - Rangers 2 (Stein 2) Motherwell 1 - Scottish First Division

1981 - Rangers 3 (Russell, McAdam, J.McDonald) Hibernian 1 - Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

1987 - Falkirk 1 Rangers 2 (McCoist 2) - Scottish Premier Division

1999 - Rangers 2 (McCann,Amoruso) Falkirk 1 - Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

2004 - Celtic 1 Rangers 0 - Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

2006 - Villarreal 1 Rangers 1 (Lovenkrands) - European Champions' League last 16

Careful lads.

 

We are only getting one side of the story.

In the redundancies thread, Zappa posted a number of highly volatile Record stories from the "other side". As opposed to the administrators, the press can show some leniency with regard to the truth and with claims.

I'd like to see any proposals put to the support before any decision is taken.

That would be the best option, but the way it will unfold is that the best deal will be scrutinized by the administrators and they say Yes! or No!. At this moment and time, we need to get out of this mess first and foremost. If it is a consortium or a lone chairman, we can always try and do the membership scheme and/or share issue stuff afterwards too.

I think we have to be VERY wary with these news reports. "understands", "claims", and "sources close" mean essentially nothing, while the rest of it is buffed with volatile wording. Edge of the seats and squeaky bums stuff for the Rangers legions ... is the cry of the media here.

While I can see the point in trying to ease the monetary pressure here, if we have real interest in the club by various people deadlined for next week, is there really a need to swing the axe here and make the work of those taking over doubly-difficult?

Well, there are a number of issues here and people have obviously various opinions about players seeking and getting a release.

Being pragmatic here, Celik took the opportunity (according to his advisor) and did not accept a 75% pay cut of his 7.5k a week (for probably a months or two?) and became a free agent again. Saves us money and gives him the chance to sign for anyone he likes and who pays him. Strikes you as the typical mercenary approach and his posturing always kept me a bit wary of him. (Have we paid GAIS anything for him thus far?) In the end tough, we did not pay him according to his contract and he's every right to go. Ally wanted to keep him, but he (and his agent) decided against it. Good luck! (On a sidenote, anyone expects a rumour from the Hooped Horrors that he was punted because of his name?)

Wylde said that he was living under so much stress that he could not bear it any longer. He in turn does not strike me as someone looking for the next best deal and I would be surprised if he signs up for anyone else in the near future. After all, we could be out of admin pretty soon again (or not, but just in case) and he would still be a freebie able to be signed up immediately. That said, we now can play Aluko and Kerkar and even Wallace on that wing and all add a very different dimension to the side than the rather straight approach Wylde offered thus far. But here, much like with the stress I mentioned above, people have to consider his age. He's not exactly a full grown adult (are footballers ever?) just yet and a combination of the above might have led him to this decision.

So essentially the agents making a mess of it ... since they are not "Rangers at heart" as some of their clients, but businessmen. Hm.

... to give you sweet(er) dreams:

EXCLUSIVE : Scottish multimillionaire mulling over Rangers takeover

 

On a day that will go down as one of the darkest in Rangers’ history to date, Hitthebyline can reveal what could prove to be a shining light at the end of a tunnel of turmoil for the club.

 

A Hitthebyline insider has had advanced discussions with Jim McColl OBE, who has expressed a desire to end the disastrous reign of Craig Whyte.

 

Last month, McColl was mentioned by former Rangers director Paul Murray as being a key figure in a potential consortium to mount a takeover bid. However, it would seem since then that McColl has had a change of heart, and would now like to champion the takeover on his own, (as our insider learned at the weekend while speaking to him at Cathkin Braes golf club).

 

McColl is understood to be watching intently and mulling over his options as he looks to become the successor to Craig Whyte, and ultimately end the suffering of the Ibrox faithful.

 

The Carmunnock born businessman has a reported fortune of over £800m, with a far more transparent and upstanding reputation than the clandestine Mr Whyte. The Daily Record reported in November of 2008 that McColl had overtaken Tom Hunter as Scotland’s richest man, and with recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honors list of 2001, Rangers would be inclined to put to put their faith in the seemingly upstanding businessman, should any takeover bid emerge.

 

As a lifelong Rangers fan, McColl has long been rumoured to enter into financial involvement with his boyhood heroes. In 2010, the Sunday Herald also reported that he was to be the bankroller of a Rangers Supporters Trust takeover bid, which was to make the club wholly owned by the supporters (in a similar setup to how Barcelona currently operate). This has since proved to be not entirely true, but the multimillionaire conceded to the fact he was providing financial advice to the supporters trust.

 

In this age of uncertainty for the Glasgow giants, it remains to be seen whether the successful entrepreneur will firm up his interest in the club. With his interest in the club now declared, all eyes will now be on him to see when and if he takes the next step.

Initially from FF

... and something in that very same thread:

Not happening.

 

Blue Knights bid is in and provisionally accepted.

 

Awaiting one signature.

plus

I don't know who's signature it's waiting on, but it was put in yesterday, and provisionally accepted.

 

4 men involved, genuinely don't know who beyond P Murray

But you said that HMRC would only be willing to do the CVA if we had paid the £9m. Why would they have an opinion one way or the other if we had paid it?

Maybe I should have posted the "rumour" itself, so it is more clear:

One rumour which won't go away is we've won the Big Tax Case but HMRC want the unpaid tax since Whyte took over paid in full.

 

If this happens, they won't appeal the verdict.

 

As ever, though, I'm fearing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Maybe I was using the CVA stuff too freely, so I beg your pardon for that.

But if we have won the tax case and paid up the VAT and PAYE, why would we need a CVA?

We've may have won the big case, but we still owe HMRC 9m (or whatever is true) in VAT and all since Whyte took over. As far as I am aware, we have not paid them that so far.

I still suspect that Whyte used this to get us into administration once the "big case" was about to be decided, so he would be one the save side from various directions. Whatever will happen, I also have a lingering feeling that he was used as a tool by someone/-many else to get the Lloyds and the HMRC stuff off our backs.

Is that Davis released aswell??

Nope. Davis is one of our most sellable assets, along with the others named. If anything, they will try to get a pay-cut deal with him and the rest ... though McGregor and McCulloch are said (!) to have offered playing for free anyways. The high-earners listed above are those considered the most safe according to some on FF, since they are not only the backbone of the team, but also, as I said above, those who could command a decent transfer fee.

I'm under the impression that the whole argument with HMRC is whether it's a contract or not... We're arguing that it's not a contract and not a right.

As posted in another thread, one rumour now goes that we actually won the big case, but HMRC is only willing to do a CVA with us when we pay up all the VAT et al stuff accumulated over the Whyte period in full. (And yes, I'm bulletproof!)

From one of the moderators at FF (and that does not make him an reliable source)

One rumour which won't go away is we've won the Big Tax Case but HMRC want the unpaid tax since Whyte took over paid in full.

 

If this happens, they won't appeal the verdict.

 

As ever, though, I'm fearing for the worst and hoping for the best.

A couple of updates .. snatched from FF

Sherbrook Loyal (Moderator)

One rumour which won't go away is we've won the Big Tax Case but HMRC want the unpaid tax since Whyte took over paid in full.

 

If this happens, they won't appeal the verdict.

 

As ever, though, I'm fearing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Chris McLaughlin ‏ @BBCchrismclaug

#Rangers administrators still hopeful of media conf tonight. Progress being made on wage cut discussions I believe.

Cut ... cut ... cut ...

 

However, like I say, I'll subscribe - but see it as more of a donation than a purchase of a service.

That's the spirit!

I think its time for me to shut my laptop down, turn my phone off & change the channel from SSN & then go shoot some infidels on MW3.

Halo - REACH does the trick to, or do some real work.

Whatever happen will happen, whether we watch it or not. I'd rather despair at the end of the day, not with every single player leaving or supposedly leaving.

Anything official bar Wylde then?

Well, I always watch on in admiration when Ally shakes the hand of the opponent's players once they leave the field. Never ever saw that happening anywhere else* and it shows the respect that he has for the professionals on the field.

We did not exactly cover ourselves in glory at times, but that does not validate the open hatred and animosity shown towards us from all strata of Scottish football. What beggars belief is the fact that by openly antagonizing us to the limit, they dig their own graves. But the hatred of Rangers is apparently more important to them and theirs than their own survival.

*BTW, I noted the same gesture in the movie A Shot at Glory, featuring a certain Ally McCoist.