der Berliner

Where have you been for the past week?

Not scanning the British media. But maybe you've got a link?

Well, from what I know of Mark Dingwall, he will not have been sitting in anyone's lap and listen to the wise words of the chairman.

Then again, it seems that many on here will not be satisfied with much (to anything) what Whyte says or does, and they will demand a vis-a-vis talk with him too.

Why would HMRC have ... and show confidental company information to someone like Paul Murray? I can give me the answer to "why", but not to "show". If so, you'd have to ask serious questions about HMRC's information processing. For AFAIK, Murray is just a normal person with no special right to see our documents, or those of Celtic, Arsenal or whatnot.

On a sidenote, Rangers and the SFA were waiting for confirmation from the Gabun FA, whether Cousin is indeed under freedom of contract. So what is he on about?

While people will come up with "he may have lied", it sure can be verified: Whyte has only this week (again) stated that the Ticketus deal was done AFTER the take-over, so how on Earth should he have used that money to pay the bank? For as I am/was aware, Lloyds was paid as part of the take-over, not afterwards.

From today's RST summary of their meeting with the chairman:

There was then some discussion about the financial transactions around the borrowings from Ticketus against season ticket revenue. The Chairman confirmed the borrowing was over a three-year period and was secured against one of his companies and not Rangers Football Club. He stated that all monies were lodged and transacted through the Club’s bank accounts – that included the £18m from him to clear the previous Bank debt, the Ticketus borrowings and the working capital available as part of the Takeover Agreement. In response to questions about the level of borrowing from Ticketus, the Chairman explained that it would be extremely difficult to borrow from any Bank at present and it was necessary to meet the running costs of around £3.5m per month.

Cannot see any benelovent motive in this action by the former chairman. At least right now.

Well, we simply should not do this ...

On a sidenote, as I just found out, you can complain about the BBC to Ofcom too, it seems. And while we are at it, since the SFA and SPL is very slow to react to any chants from the Hooped Horrors, whoe were again obvious last night, maybe someone should complain at higher authorities?!

BTW, if Cousin (or someone else) ends his contract with Sapins tomorrow, he'd essentially be a free agent to sign for anyone else the day after.

So the BBC shall remain a self-controlling business? Much like the SFA who can sanction managers and players alike, but their referees are beyond criticism by said people?

I can't wait for the day Rangers FC are beyond criticism...

They were, for about a day and a half last May, after slaughtering Killie and retaining the title. Soon after that the usual fare crept back into the minds.

Anyways, one of my mottos is that ... it is not as important to look at the deficits as it is to see the possibilities of the manageable. We are in the "now and here" and we have to live with that and make the best of it. And yes, we all know that it could be much better, and was much better. But "could" and "was" are of no help.

The problem is you're suggesting such comments are gratuitous when, in fact, they're valid concerns about the club's past and ongoing transfer strategy.

 

As explained many times during such laments, I (and I'd guess most fans) don't have a problem with downsizing if we can run club on an even keel. But we do have a problem with misleading and bizarre transfer operations. More so, when it directly affects our chances of winning the league which delivers the best chance of substantial investment.

 

Maybe if we ever get an explanation for such tactics, we can stop asking the question.

I just suggest to stop posting laments with nigh every transfer target that happens by. We saw that with Aluko and nothing has changed since, despite him being one of the best things we've had these last 6 months.

As for the transfer deal stuff ... I am still somewhat hesitant here, since we are effectively noselead by various press stories even before any of our own people (be that management or chairman) has said a word on it. The media falls over one another with assumptions and rumours and many follow suit, ending up with an idea how things went even before the manager knows that he was interested. Sure, there were some strange thing, not least Goodwillie, but that has not solely to do with out management.

People are entitled to voice their opinions without constantly being patronised for doing so.

Not patronising, Sir, just stating the obvious. What does it help if we go on and on and on about the very same thing ... apart that it drags all ever more deeper into the gloom and doom levels. We know that before the HMRC thing is done there will not be major signings or improvements ... for very obvious reasons. The sooner we acknowledge this, live with it (FOR THE TIME BEING) and get on with it, the better. The team has shown pre the Cup game that it is good enough for the SPL, for the time being. Hemmings comes back ... and with Broadfoot at least someone who can play at right back at an SPL level. The more decent enough people we get in the better. IMHO Cousin will be decent enough, for say 6 months. By then we're either in administration or we are not, but that is then, not now. Now we face the Pars on the weekend.

... not possible since it is a loan deal. McMillan will burst his gut against us though.

...

 

However, for us to be in this situation is a disgrace.

But lamenting about it each and every time we are not linked to a super-star will not change it ...

You've seen him play in the African Cup of Nations of late?

Rangers line-up shock move to take Gabon striker Daniel Cousin back to Ibrox

 

Feb 8 2012 Exclusive by Keith Jackson

 

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist is considering a shock swoop to re-sign former Ibrox striker Daniel Cousin.

Record Sport understands the Gers chief opened talks with the Gabon international yesterday and is now attempting to raise money to bring him in on a short-term deal between now and the end of the season.

Cousin could even return to Scotland in time to make a second debut for the Ibrox club at Dunfermline on Saturday as McCoist attempts to beef up his paltry attacking options by scouring the international market for free agents who can be snapped up outside the transfer window.

The player's agent Willie McKay confirmed: "Daniel had talks with Ally McCoist today and everything looks very positive.

"He has a few offers on the table because of his recent form with Gabon but he is keen on the idea of returning to Rangers.

"The last time I took him there they won the title so who's to say it won't happen again?"

Rangers are hoping to receive confirmation from the Gabon FA today that Cousin was out of contract before the transfer window opened on January 1.

Sources believe the player could be back at Murray Park by tomorrow although that may depend on whether he is allowed to miss Friday's official reception - hosted by the Gabon president - to honour his country's African Cup of Nations performances.

The striker celebrated his 35th birthday last week before captaining Gabon in their quarter-final clash with Mali on Sunday.

They lost on penalties but Cousin did well enough in his country's run to convince McCoist he still has something to offer - almost four years after his £3 million move to Hull.

He spent a season in the English top flight but left the next year to join Greek club Larissa. He left there in the summer and spent four months in his homeland with FC Sapins getting fit for the African Cup of Nations

The source that needs no clicks

"Considering" and "understands" are the main words here.

Is not the more important point here that if we have spent 70% or whatever of the next three season's ticket money on this year's expenditure, how are we going to finance the next three year's expenditure unless we keep rolling over or extending the debt further into the future; and isn't that a recipe for financial armageddon?

 

BTW I don't belive that's what has happeened at all, as BD has clearly demonstrated there was more than enough in the kitty for running expenses IF Mr Whyte had put up the money stated in the circular and not used the Ticketus money effectively to buy the Club.

As I said before, people work with assumptions - if not to say hearsay - here, for e.g. throwing the Ticketus deal about, a deal that was made after the takeover (and, as Whyte stated, it is not only common practise all over Britain, but was also done by the previous board - though not that long.)

At times, I really dispair how people go on and on with information fed by the press, but ignore what Whyte has stated already. As long as that remains the case and nigh all what Whyte says is regarded as dubious, there is no real basis for keeping a discussion or debate alife. Sure people will come out now and say that Whyte does not tell the truth and one has a right to ask questions and should not keep the head in the sand. But - really - the negativity surrounding all things Whyte - well bred and fed by the press over a long year now - has a hearty grip on many people and objectivity has long since disappeared in many a discussion. People, after being nose-lead by Murray & Co. over years, apparently transferred a good portion of this ill feelings to the new owner, being lead down the hysteria garden path by a malcontent media too. That plays exactly into the hands of all those who wish our club ill and makes a mockery of the well-known line "no-one likes, us; we don't care!". "We" care more about hearsay and assumptions from the outside than anything else these days. And that transpires onto the field of play and also affects the players and staff. Job well done ...

They already have carte blanche. Not cooperating with them only exasperates the situation.

No, Ofcom has a long standing dispute with the BBC about their apparent "carte blanche" and this is more ammunition for Ofcom's claims. People just have to use it correctly.

This is ever more bordering to the ridiculous the more it gets on. Half-truths and hearsay from all angles, assumptions and speculation all over the place. I think I'll give it a rest till we get the HMRC verdict and see what developes after that. May the press enjoy their self-stired hysteria and may the Bears keep a clean head.

Making peace with the BBC? As in giving them the card blanche to simply go on with their mudstirring? The same tactics have IMHO lead to the sad statistic that Celtic players can commit twice as many fouls per game before receiving a yellow card than any other team.

The BBC has an obligation to be impartial. We do not have an obligation to serve their needs, especially when they are not fulfinging their own obligations.

Yes he did, 90 days.

Unless I am mistaken, I answered this myself with a quote from the Circular?

Bluedell

Which cash? We got in £24m from Ticketus. Whyte cleared the £18m bank loan. Whyte committed to pay us £15m. We should have got in around £15m in season ticket money. Why have we less than £9m in the bank at 30th June?

Now wait, when exactly did we do this deal with Ticketus? Before or after June 2011? That aside, unless I am mistaken, we did/do not get the money up front either. As I said before, we pay out some 3.5m a month. Now add up all these months to the date you require (June 2011) and then up to now to see how much we/he/TRG have to spent. It is not that difficult.

My main question is where is the cash at 30th June, which is the only date where we know what our balance was.

 

The contracts for Davis, McGregor, Whittaker were all signed after that. Goian, Bocanegra, Aluko, Wallace, Bedoya, Ortiz etc were all signed after that.

Which cash? We/he had to pay all the players and staff too? I'm not the finance guru on here, I just try to make some more sense of the numbers than King & Co. do.

Where is this account? Are you suggesting he is taking money out of the club to do this?

Isle of Man, of course! No seriously, he/TRG/Rangers pay all the money, so whether or not the money is in the Rangers accounts or his or that of TRG does not matter. It might (IMHO) be held close to the chest in case the tax bill is smaller than what the press likes it to be.

In any case, Whyte/TRG will not say how they do the daily financing of the club or how they prepare for this or that eventuality - much like any other company in the world.

But we simply dont know if that Holt bid was actually a serious one. I mean..... you or I could put a bid in for Holt but so long as I know that it isnt going to secure his services I dont actually have to have the money. Right ? And we know that 1 million was not going to get Holt in. So Whyte would have known that he neednt worry about a) stumping up a transfer fee and b) finding the wages for Holt.

 

As for your statement about the CL jackpot..... in that weekend Q&A with Tom English (I assume you read it) Craig Whyte, on multiple occasions, said that he simply would NOT gamble on the possibility of getting into the CL. He was very clear that we would not be spending money on the hope of reaching the CL - that we would be spending money assuming we do NOT get into the CL and that if we did make the CL then it would be a bonus financially.

What I said is that the current squad is probably not good enough to a) win the title for a direct entry to the CL qualifiers, and b) will not be good enough to do it in the future either. By bringing in some freebies or low-budget people as "replacements" for the strikers gone and missing, we may have at least a chance to retain the title and look at a brighter future than now. If we don't even draw a ticket though, we will not even have a chance to get into the CL. Going by the selling and loaning statistics, there sure should be some money about to finance one or two freebies till at least the end of the season. The loss would thus be minimal, the gain substantial. And, while I am at it, getting a few fresh faces in and perhaps retaining the title would give the team as well as the fans a much needed boost. (I was not asking for recklessly throwing money about.)

Whyte recently stated that we shell out some 3.5m per month to run the club. We have no bank doing this, nor any other facility, mainly due to the HMRC thing. Thus we need to be inventive. As has been said time and again, we signed and dealed 14 players in over the course of Whyte's reign too, with only two (Bougherra & Jelavic) bringing in any substantial amounts of money. These people and their agents all have to get paid, repair stuff at Ibrox to be done and whatnot. Contractors too want their cash now, bills being paid instantly ... because of the HMRC thing. And, as I said before, I do assume that Whyte has an account where he stores a certain sum to pay a small bill from the large case.

Hence, all what I read of him in recent weeks makes a certain amount of sense. It is not exactly satisfying a state, but it makes sense. Will you get more answers from Whyte? Nope. For certain stuff is confidential ... at every company on this planet.

Again ... this is not something that needs to be carried out in front of the press and all supporters. Sometimes you do wonder what people actually expect here, e.g. (and taking it a touch too far, of course) Ally twittering about what he does right now, whom he is watching, who looks good and all? This is the age of instant and constant information and people apparently cannot live without that any longer. But this is just not reality. At least not when it comes to hard business. I for one rather read about any transfer target on our website, than days and weeks of (unfounded) speculation first in the media, then on the boards. Frustrating as the waiting game is though.

BTW, just to keep the feet on the ground, people are not just waiting to get a call and stand ready for training. So even if we have a few free strikers in mind and got them signed up for a trial, they may just have to settle private issues and travel arrangements first. As I said before, keep the feet on the ground here.

Page 6 of the circular tells about that. In many ways, people who debate about Whyte and his intentions should read this before e.g. asking the 20m question time and again.

1. The Agreement, together with a separate side letter between The Rangers FC Group and the

Club, contains a number of undertakings in relation to The Rangers FC Group's commitment

to the Club and these are expressed to be enforceable by both the Club and the Vendor. The

principal undertakings may be summarised as follows:

 

(a) if the Club has not suffered an insolvency event within 90 days of the Club's appeal in relation to the tax claim brought against the Club by HM Revenue & Customs (the "Tax Case") being

finally determined, then The Rangers FC Group will either waive the debt that it has acquired

or convert it into equity by way of an issue of new voting ordinary shares in the Club. The

acquisition of the debt by The Rangers FC Group is described further at paragraph 2 below.

However, The Rangers FC Group has separately undertaken to the Club that it will waive the

debt that it has acquired and not exercise its option to convert it into equity as provided for in

the Agreement;

 

(b) The Rangers FC Group has undertaken to provide £5,000,000 for investment in the playing

squad;

 

© The Rangers FC Group has stated its intention to invest, or procure an investment of, £20

million by 2016 for investment in the playing squad. If, as part of any player acquisition, the

Club agrees to make a transfer payment in a future year before 2016, The Rangers FC Group

will be obliged to invest cash to cover such transfer payment, up to £5 million per year; such

amounts coming out of the £20 million investment that The Rangers FC Group has stated its

intention to invest;

 

(d) The Rangers FC Group has undertaken to provide or procure the provision of up to

£5,000,000 of additional working capital facilities to the Club;

 

(e) The Rangers FC Group is to contribute to the Club the amount required to meet a liability

owed by the Club to HM Revenue & Customs in relation to a discounted option scheme tax;

 

(f) The Rangers FC Group is to provide £1.7 million to the Club to fund capital expenditure in

relation to improving kitchen and public address equipment at the stadium and meeting other

necessary or reasonable capital expenditure required in the ordinary course;

 

(g) The Rangers FC Group undertakes that, until the debt has been waived, the Club will not be

required to lend money to The Rangers FC Group or grant security in respect of The Rangers

FC Group's borrowings unless the borrowing (and the granting of the security in relation to it)

is principally for the Club's benefit; and

 

(h) a breach of any of the undertakings given by The Rangers FC Group in the Agreement will

result in the debt acquired being automatically extinguished. The terms on which the debt

would be extinguished are to be agreed by the parties at the relevant time.

 

2. Until such time as the debt acquired by The Rangers FC Group is either waived or converted

into equity, if the Club suffers an insolvency event or is unable to pay its debts as they fall, the

debt acquired by The Rangers FC Group shall be deemed to be increased by an amount

equal to the amounts contributed by The Rangers FC Group as set out in paragraphs 1 (b),

(e) and (f) above.