der Berliner

Unless I am mistaken, the right to play European football is earned by May 2012, when the league has finished. After that the clubs can check whether they receive a license from UEFA for it. What we have to do is make sure the accounts will be signed sealed and delivered by March 31st to the SFA, so that we fulfill all their obligations. Once the HMRC case is being done or the administration process is going on, you would assume that all facts and figures will be relayed to the relevant places anyway. If we are still in administration by the time the teams apply for a European license, we will have a problem - unless there is some backdoor to this. So the sooner it all gets sorted the better.

That is the point ... club membership schemes mean that slowly but steadily the club's ownership will shift into the hands of its members. They decide on the board et al. The problem with the British clubs is that many are being run by owners who invest most of the cash and thus want most of the say ... and fair enough. What needs to be done here is that the members both gets something for their membership fee as well as being certain that the money they invest is used wisely. Thus, you would not invest in anything chairman (be that Whyte or whomever), but Rangers FC.

On a sidenote, creating a model of club membership like it is being done in Germany or Spain would help to secure the club a certain nearly fixed amount of annual income that can used to rebuilt. It works on various levels over here, be that football, ice hockey or basketball. Pending on the annual membership fee (say 100 pounds) and the initial stuff related to it (discounts on products, tickets, et al; first pick for special tickets not included in season tickets, brick at Ibrox, you name it; shares), it might raise quite some money. If ever there was a chance to start it, it would be now. But that needs to be done by a institution the fans adore, maybe headed/fronted by people like Laudrup, Albertz, Novo and Co.. Will we get 40k people? Maybe not. But perhaps a few who are willing to buy more than one membership and thus getting access to more share or the like?

My opinion of blog Traynor's article? Utter dross.

A Q &A for the case of administration has been made available on the homepage. Maybe I'm the wrong person to disuss it, but these lines look to be the important ones.

Snatched from FF

... but Vodafone could? Other companies could? Because their lobby is bigger than ours? I see your point Bluedell, but the way HMRC decided that hardline approach right when it was the worst for us is ... well ... Zappa No-one wants to bank or deal with us as it stands now and no-one on here thinks that one man will dig even deeper in his pocket to finance the club for much longer. Running costs are at 3.5m a month ... and Whyte is no sheikh.

This ... ... is what I expected to read after the initial meltdown. As nothing else can be done today or for the time being, I think I quit the debate for now.

We have the Club's statement now and should relax somewhat ... What is the key issue seems to be the tone of the HMRC people who will proceed with their claim "no matter what" and thus essentially keep the club from operating. IMHO, this borders to extortion and coercion, no matter whether they have the right to do this or not.

Obviously, I assume that the result of the tax case will be known soon. We can all think of the worst case scenario, but e.g. if the bill is in the region of 20m, it would not mean "instant death" or something. If it is a technicality that has to be done, for the time being it is the best thing to wait and see.

This, btw, might be the time the Rangers support finally joins up and get their act together.

Well, we could all jump from the next building too, and it will not help one bit.

I would assume that the outcome of the tax case was 50/50 at best, so he could at least wait till he knows it. ANYWAYS ... before we all join the moon in orbit, we should wait what Rangers will have to say about this. BTW, so far, this looks much more like a precautionary measure to me (though I have no clue how this process is being done): Essentially, the tax case can still go either way, unless Whyte and Co. knew the results before posting the letters. On a sidenote, what do HMRC guidelines have to do with this? Unless I am mistaken, this is company/business stuff, not something for a tax and customs authority?

The point is, we hardly know what is actually being done right now. It could be done and dusted right now, Friday afternoon or May 14th. As long as we tie him up, no problem.

Some English reporter twittered that there might be news about the tax case pretty soon ... and right on queue, FF goes into orbit*! * i.e.

Whyte recently said that we want to tie up Aluko sooner rather than later.

... and for some it all fells nicely into place.

... well, at least he does speak to the various supporters groups, and on a nigh weekly basis.

More recently I was wondering whether the quitting of Greig and McLelland might have indeed to do with not liking Whyte as a person. Be that personality, age, or business dealings so far. Just wondering. As for King, he's got more taxmen running after him that we have an average home support ... and for years. While he sure can give advice on that, his whole role at the club appeared to have been minimal. We do not know by now whom Whyte wants to be near to him, nor do we know the exact reasons why King left. Might put that question to him via the RST this week though.

You did read my remark about pinchs and cups of salt? Matter of fact, I tend to believe the words of Whyte as posted on the homepage and the Rangers supporters group's websites more (sic!) than what I read in any sort of press or media release. If you take this removal of King as an example, the whole way it is presented essentially oozes of antipathy towards Whyte ... when exactly how many people know how King and Whyte get along which each other?

Again, who is King apparently talking to here about stuff he would keep to himself if he's any dignity and loyalty to the club? If the above is actualy correct.

First, I did not read that garbage, since it will not state anything that has not been printed about half a dozen times by now. I wonder why people even contemplate to speak about "Celtic's demands" or "demotion to some lower league". The SPL rules for administration are simple and ther for everyone to see. Should they find a new solution if we go into administration will surely be contested by RAngers. It did not happen to any other club of any stature before. The scum's demands simply show them up for what they are. Staying out of Europe for three years. Yes, if we go down the drain and start as a new club, that will be the case. Why should we though? Simple administration does not work along those lines, what is painted here is the horror-scenario of pre-prac admin, which will hardly come to pass. What might occur is that we are still in administration over the summer or early next season and thus will not get a European license for next season. But whether we are in administration that long, or whether we are in adminstration at all still remains to be seen.

Thanks for that input, forlanssister. Still stand by my point. The way this episode is becoming a nexus for judging his personality in the media (and on here) proved that the hacks are on the right way. That the sheriff disregards his ban has exactly what to do with this case?

I wonder how some on here have "definite" information. Sounds much like what is said in that photocopied article: "for daring to question" ... well let's make Whyte the ruthless dictator now! Pinch of salt? Nay, cup of salt these days.

As I said before, other judges have ruled that Rangers songs are sectarian and sentenced people for it. Then another judge ruled that Celtic songs of equal pedigree are not sectarian but annoying some people in the public, the accused got a stern talking to and were done with it. I for one do not trust a judge in Scotland much more than I could throw him/her. Not that this will help if people want to walk along with the media and dance a jig on all negative evidence and perceive evidence that is published about Whyte. Best to cease debate till after the case is heard, for right now those behind all the shyte-stirring are making the most of one of their underlines schemes, i.e. splitting our support.