pete

Also written by Richard Wilson. Not for the light hearted.

Rangers chief Derek Llambias rehires his old PR firm.. who cost Ibrox club £8000 A WEEK 23:34, 18 February 2015 By Keith Jackson MEDIA experts Keith Bishop Associates had an Ibrox contract worth £8000-a-week ripped up around 12 months ago - at a time when Llambias owned 51 per cent of the company. SNS GROUP Rangers chief executive Derek Llambias RANGERS chief Derek Llambias appears to have rehired his old PR firm – a year after they were given the boot. Media experts Keith Bishop Associates had an Ibrox contract worth £8000 a week ripped up around 12 months ago – at a time when Llambias owned 51 per cent of the company. Now a London-based PR guru who boasts of his close links with KBA is fielding inquiries made to the club’s official press office. Former News of the World executive Gary Thompson said yesterday he is “helping the club out” while head of PR Carol Patton is on holiday. In his professional profile, Thompson – who runs his own media firm – states proudly: “I also work closely with Keith Bishop Associates, whose clients include Newcastle United.” Llambias is still registered as majority shareholder in KBA on official documents at Companies House – and held a seat on the board as recently as five months ago. But he insisted in a meeting with Rangers fans last week that he sold his shares in KBA to Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct at some point in 2014. In the minutes of his recent meeting with the Rangers Fans Board, Llambias is quoted as saying: “People know that I was involved in this company. Lots of work was done by Bishops in the Green era. They are still involved in dealing with Sky on a game-by-game basis. I sold my shares to Sports Direct Media early in 2014.” In December 2012, at the time of Charles Green’s shares issue, it emerged that KPA were raking in huge sums from Ibrox coffers even though they had their own head of communications. The contract was ended early last year by Phil Nash, who was hired as financial director and told to slash unnecessary costs. Nash resigned from his Ibrox post when Ashley had a controversial emergency loan approved by chairman David Somers and his board – soon after Llambias was brought in as chief executive. Now his old PR firm appear to be back on the scene in the shape of Thompson. On Monday night, a man with a London accent who gave his name only as Gary was answering calls made to the club’s official “duty” PR phone. But yesterday the Record called his bluff, asking him directly if he was Gary Thompson. Having confirmed that he was, we asked if KBA had been officially engaged to do Rangers’ PR. He replied: “I’m independent. I obviously know them and I’m just helping out. “I’m just helping out because Carol is on holiday. So if you’ve got an official inquiry, send it into the press office at Rangers. All I’m doing is helping while Carol is off by taking messages.” Daily Record: “And you’re working in your capacity as an employee of Keith Bishop Associates? Or as an associate of Keith Bishop Associates?” Gary Thompson: “I’m not going to comment on any relationship. So if you’ve got a question about that, put it in writing and the club can come back to you.” DR: OK, that’s what I’ll do. What email address should I use because I do want to ask the Rangers board if they have re-engaged with Keith Bishop Associates?” After more conversation, we told Thompson: “I’m sure you understand that we need to try to clarify this. It’s fine. I’ll jot down a couple of questions and fire them off. GT: “I’ve just told you what I’m doing but I’m not willing to give you any comment at all on Keith Bishop or the club because you’ve got to put that to the club.” The following email was then sent: “As per our phone conversation I would like to formally request clarification on the current status of the club’s relationship with Keith Bishop Associates. “As calls to the duty phone number of the club’s head of PR are being diverted to you – and I’m assuming you are not helping out free of charge – it does indeed appear as if the services of KBA have been re-engaged by the club. Can the board or Mr Llambias please comment on this? “Obviously, I should also ask at this point if Mr Llambias still owns a 51 per cent holding in KBA? Records from as recently as three weeks ago indicate that he does.” Late last night, no response had been received.

It is not done until the fat man swings. (Figuratively of course)

I think this answers your question on Prior.

Kieron Prior was very critical of the board and said he wanted them out a few months ago. I would imagine he has not changed his opinion.

Thanks mate and Welcome. I hope you enjoy posting.

Collymore Tweet likening us to Chelsea and NF, BNP,C18.

More like a Sport Direct bank vault somewhere would imagine

If you take into account the RST have also 6.000+, I believe, then we are already double the size of the Hearts club.

I would imagine if he has been found guilty of acquiring Rangers by illegal means any right he thinks he has to the assets will have gone. I would imagine it would be easy for RFC to defend the rights to the assets. Ashely is probably a bigger threat to our assets as Whyte will ever be.

I wonder how many people have filled in their tax forms completely honestly. I think if need be the tax office could find something on everyone. Don't fill in names as it may be used against you.

I don't know for sure but I get the impression Souness would be a cunt to work under. There is a difference between hard getting the players to work hard and hard that the players start to revolt.

I will do the Falkirk game to give us some breathing space.

I doubt this mob will give up before the count. Even if it is just for an expenses paid night in a London Hotel.

As I found out recently your health can change within one visit to the doctor with what you think is something simple..

Agree they can't do that now that 5 mill is on offer + other offers of finance. Even they wouldn't push the boat on that one.

I am afraid I will only believe it on the afternoon of March the 4th or March 5th after the stock-market result is published.

To be honest I doubt if much would have changed. The main rush only happened after people realised they could possibly make a difference at this EGM. If the 3 bears and King had not got their shares and turned things about then I doubt if there would have been the same reaction to the two schemes.

I know there are no Lawyers on here but if Whyte did win his case could anyone (Murray) take him to court for obtaining it under false pretences?

Fight, Fight, Fight, Fight,

I would also imagine that the 3 bears will have at least 1 position on the new board. They just can't be seen to be working together at this stage. I will be surprised if King goes with a 3 man board.

I would agree but it was the cowards way out if it was the reason.

That fact had not been released at the time of writing the notice. That is now a bridge he will have to cross. It was a stupid and arrogant statement to make anyway and he deserves all the flack he gets from it.

Unfortunately only to us Frankie. Untenable doesn't exist in the dictionary of the Board otherwise Somers would have been ditched a long time ago.

Hopefully with 40.000 fans because of the new board.