stewarty

We needed a reaction from the team and we got one.   We must build on this come Saturday.

As well as we being on UEFA's "watch list" for sailing very close to the wind in terms of FFP (or whatever they're calling it now), its prudent for the Board to be wary of inflation and its unknown impact on our short term cost base.  Other financial unknowns (at least to us) are the particulars of the settlement with Ashley,  the capital needed for New Edmiston House, any new/significant maintenance costs for Ibrox and Auchenhowie, new contracts for senior players, amortisation of previous transfers as well as previous losses which we have racked up... and thats before you get to the shitshow that is the SPFL's TV deal renegotiations which continue to hold us back financially and will do so over an even longer period if they gerrymander it through.

Despite all of that, I was disappointed we didn't manage to make at least one more signing before the deadline.  My gut feel was there should have been scope for it, but I guess we will need to see what the accounts say to get a clearer picture.  We seem to continually shoot ourselves in the foot from a communication point of view though.  The Board should know we are hyper sensitive on financial matters and read the room by providing more timely information rather than waiting till the pitchforks are drawn.

Rangers 1 - Napoli 2

FGS Tav

Celtic 2 - 4 Rangers

FGS Colak

Rangers 5 - 1 QOTS 

FGS Matondo

Rangers 4 - 0 Ross County

FGS Colak

There may also be UCL group stage qualification bonus payments triggered with sponsors, though doubt we will get much detail on what they are.

Sands for me.  Very calm and assured in pressure situations. 

Hard to disagree.  Seems like he’s a good team man too; putting in a shift and making himself a menace. 

Porto, Leipzig, Benfica. Thankyouplease

Just now, the gunslinger said:

Timan also excellent. Goldson epic for the last half hr too. 

A number of very close mentions, for sure.  I just thought there were a number of moments under pressure where he made the difficult play look normal.   He still makes the odd little mistake, but he has that knack of being in the right place at the right time, which is a very good attribute at centre half. 

I can’t vouch for this so take with a pinch of salt, but my mate texted me earlier to say that one of the dads at his son’s football who knows folk who work for the club

…says Morelos apparently bowled in 2 hours late for training on Sunday and had been at Sanctuary nightclub the night (morning) before.

16 minutes ago, buster. said:

I said a while back that this squad wasn't going to do much this season. It hasn't the balance or depth. Too many players who need managed because of age or chronic injury problems.

 

Recruitment hasn't resolved these problems, at least in the short term.

 

The whole shooting match is starting to look like a slow motion car crash.

I'm still retaining an optimistic outlook, but there are warning signals.

Its amazing how much a draw can influence the next week, but its down to the squad now to show that they're behind the manager and to put in a top performance.

Much as I have some concerns, qualifying tomorrow and win our next 2 league games and its a very different picture.

8 minutes ago, Frankie said:

Sure but I'm worried about the mixed messages. Three weeks ago we were being fed Morelos was 'flying' and now he's effectively suspended.

 

I tend to side with the manager on these things (especially given Tav's words) but I'm unconvinced we're in a good place.

Mixed messages and mixed results.  Not sure its at a crisis point but we're an Old Firm defeat away from some very loud gnashing of teeth.

Edit: I'm hoping this is one of those inflection points where we look back at the end of the season and realise it was the early kick up the backside that got our season going.

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/9344672/rangers-sue-american-businesswoman-secret-plot-sell-club/

Quote

RANGERS are suing an American businesswoman over claims she tried to flog the club behind their back, we can reveal.

Kyle Fox, 49 alleged her firm was buying the Light Blues and used their official crest and logos in a bid to lure investors.

 

Kyle Fox, who's firm is being sued for allegedly selling shares in Rangers illegallyCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

She invited Gers associates to join her in securing “ownership”.

 

But the Ibrox club’s US lawyers said: “None of these statements were or are true”.

 

Former Rangers chairman Paul Murray hooked up the club to the potential investor who they are now suing, court papers reveal.

Legal documents lodged in the US say he used email to introduce Ibrox deputy chair John Bennett to the American businesswoman.

 

 

 

 

 

The Gers No2 rejected two offers from her for 75 per cent and 25 per cent stakes in the footie giants, which she valued at £108million.

Despite owning no part of the club, Fox then issued a plea to would-be investors for cash.

But directors were tipped off and immediately called in lawyers.

 

And last night it emerged the Premiership outfit is now seeking compensation from Fox’s company KRF Capital for damage to its “business relationships, goodwill and reputation”.

 

 

 

Referring to the firm as “Defendant”, a 239-page complaint filed last Tuesday at a court in Miami, Florida, states: “Rangers, a Scottish football club, is not for sale.

 

“Yet, Rangers has learned that Defendant has, without Rangers’ authorisation, been approaching and actively soliciting potential ‘investors’ and Rangers’ current corporate clients pitching an opportunity — that does not exist — to purchase an ownership interest in Rangers.

“Defendant is doing so without Rangers’ consent, and in its materials is unlawfully using Rangers’ trademarks and branding.

“Rangers seeks injunctive relief and damages from this Court as a result of the harm Defendant has inflicted and will continue to inflict on Rangers and its business relationships, goodwill, and reputation.”

 

Murray’s introductory email was titled “Project 22”. It said Fox was being advised by ex-English FA senior executive Adrian Bevington.

It added that she had “worked in capital markets for over 17 years” and “led over $75billion of debt and equity transactions globally”.

Fox stated in June that KRF Capital was “very interested in the opportunity to acquire at least 75 per cent” of Rangers and “sought to commence the due diligence process for the potential investment”.

But the offer was dismissed just a few days later by the Ibrox board.
Director Graeme Park stated that there was “no appetite to take the proposal further”. Despite this, Bennett and Fox met in early July in London, where she made a revised offer to “acquire a minimum of 25 per cent”.

 

In a follow-up email, Fox told Bennett: “It was lovely to meet you in London. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the club.

“To follow up, I have attached a revised offer to acquire a minimum of 25 per cent + percentage of the Rangers International Football Club. Our aim is to be part of the team that has made the club a huge success. We are confident that we can offer value to the club as a strategic investor and, of course, we are great fans of the club.

“We believe Rangers, with their strong fan base, will be a great fit for us.”

 

Rangers' shareholders and their percentage stake

Fox also claimed that her group would pump £75million into the club over five years. This was also rejected in late July by the club, which said: “Discussions with KRF Capital have concluded.”

 

But days later it emerged that Fox had been emailing potential investors — despite holding no stake in Rangers herself.

She sent an information pack on the club which included her own business plan, which was referred to as ‘Investor Deck’.

Fox pledged the group would support the ongoing redevelopment of the Ibrox museum and shop at Edmiston House as well as new hospitality lounges in the stadium.

 

They would also increase revenue by selling NFTs and start a 3D streaming service using Artificial Intelligence drones for matches.

The info pack claimed: “Current owners are looking to sell to new ownership who has the expertise in digital, media, and technology to scale existing and new revenue streams. Rare opportunity to acquire a controlling stake in a Championship-level team at an extremely reasonable purchase price.”

Gers’ US lawyers demanded on August 5 that Fox stop her unauthorised activities. But this was ignored.

Instead, she sent emails to five partners of a European finance firm inviting them to invest.

 

In her offer, which states she is looking for a £41million cash injection, Fox stated: “I am writing to invite you to consider joining our investor group which is acquiring a plurality ownership of a first division football team in Scotland.

“Ownership will be obtained directly from key owners with whom we are in exclusive conversations.”

 

Fox went on to point out how any investors would be able to make money by signing up.

She said: “We will modernise the club by leveraging cutting-edge technology to achieve the NextGen experience for existing and future fans while creating incrementally scalable revenue streams.”

 

However, the email was forwarded to an Ibrox board member by one of the five partners — who wondered if the club was “aware this was going on”.

And that prompted club bosses to immediately instruct their lawyers to take action in the States.

Rangers’ claim says: “The Investor Deck contains Rangers’ branding and trademarked proprietary material — intellectual property that KRF Capital was never authorised to use.”

 

Lawyers for the club say the emailed document also used many Rangers “brand assets”, including crests and photos of players.

Their claim continues: “Defendant created this Investor Deck with the intent to trick any reader into thinking that: (1) Rangers is for sale; (2) Rangers is working with KRF Capital to sell a controlling stake in the enterprise; and (3) Rangers authorised this offer and presentation.

“KRF Capital has been meeting with, and presenting to, Rangers’ corporate clients on the purported basis that the sale of equity in Rangers has been endorsed by the club’s board of directors.

 

“This is false. Rangers has not given KRF Capital authorisation to meet with its corporate clients or anyone else for that matter.”

Finance investigation site Offshore Alert revealed KRF Capital was incorporated in Delaware, US, in December, 2019, and ceased being in good standing on June 1, 2022, owing $522 in taxes.

 

Rangers are currently in good financial health following their lucrative run to last season’s Europa League final as well as generating tens of million of pounds from player sales.

 

The club has already exceeded its annual target for commercial revenue of £27.9million.

It is a remarkable transformation from ten years ago when the club’s controlling company went bust, sparking years of financial chaos and controversy.

Fox said: “We have no comment and expect this action to be dropped in short order.”

 

 

Rangers did not reply to our request for comment but later they posted a statement on their website.

It said: “RIFC has raised injunction proceedings in the US to prevent a US entity and its principal falsely claiming it has been authorised by Rangers to sell shares in RIFC and using Rangers IP (Intellectual Property) for that purpose.”

Not playing Morelos last week and him not travelling this week also leaves it open for UCL level clubs if they're interested.

Well that news certainly made more sense of the twitter exchange between @Frankieand Stevie from 4Lads.

I do wonder whether Gio wants to move in a different direction with regards to our striking option, and an end of window sale of Morelos could be the way to fund such a change, regardless of the outcome tomorrow night.

3 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

Lundstram's red will surely be rescinded.  

 

I wouldn't bother appealing Morelos' red - it was maybe a wee bit soft but you can argue that either way.  

Yeah i suspect you're right.   I didn't think there was any excessive force involved, it was clear he was watching the ball, and it was just one of those "comings together".  A yellow was a fair shout in my view, but I can't see any SFA panel rescinding two reds from the same game.  

Immediate appeal for the Lundstram red.  And we're still to decide on whether to appeal Alfredo's. 

PSV 2 - 3 Rangers

FGS Colak

Hibs 0 - 3 Rangers

FGS Colak

11 hours ago, buster. said:

Trying to squeeze value out of signings is all very well but recruiting an injury prone Souttar when we already had an injury prone Helander was always liable to lead to this type of situation.

 

That isn't recactionary, I said it when Souttar signed.

 

Then to just make sure we made it doubly difficult for ourselves, we change to a zonal marking system as CL qualifiers come around.

I think everyone thought the same thing about Souttar in terms of his injury record, but on a free, on balance, I think he's a decent signing.  On top of that, as you rightly point out, Helander is also similarly out regularly and we struggle to get consecutive games out of him consistently.

Which is why I thought the comments from Super about Balogun were odd.  We similarly had to manage his fitness and he also struggles to string together games.  I'd much rather give King minutes when the need arises, and that seems to be Gio's view too.  

Colak for me. We're starting to switch on to how he plays and find his runs, which is encouraging.   Can't argue with 4 in 4

Goldson got stuck under the man/ball for the second but there were others at the set piece that also failed to match runners and to get a block/header in.

Whilst we rode our luck a little, it was disappointing to concede from two set pieces like that.  A tough second leg coming up but I think we have a good chance.