ian1964

...future funding plans, raising their stakes and a seat on the board WHEN Rangers shareholders have gathered in recent years, headlines and history have often been made. The latest General Meeting on Wednesday morning was a far more straightforward affair, however, as investors approved a resolution that allows soft loans from Dave King and the Three Bears – George Letham, George Taylor and Douglas Park – to be converted into shares. Here, we speak to Club 1872 director Laura Fawkes about what the move means for Rangers and the fan organisation as King and his fellow financial backers get set to continue funding the next stage of the rebuilding job. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL MEETING? LF: From a Club 1872 point of view, it is like a resetting of the shareholding to some degree. The soft loans have been in for a long period of time and Dave, Douglas Park, George Taylor, George Letham, have put a lot of money in via soft loans. It was always the idea that they would be converted to shares and there were the issues with the Takeover Panel so it was put on the backburner and the soft loans have sat there probably for longer than they would have expected. It is a difficult one, because although Club 1872 will be diluted, it is almost bringing the whole thing back to where it always really has been. We have had it in the back of our minds that those soft loans were there and would be converted to shares. We knew those shares would be allocated to those guys and the amount of money they have put in is so large that there was bound to be a level of evening out of the shareholding. It is that finally happening. The crucial point is that Club 1872 members had the opportunity to decide whether or not they supported that happening. Like every issue, we put it out to the members and how they vote is what we action. It was voted through overwhelmingly by the members. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY TO MEMBERS THE FACT THAT YOUR SHAREHOLDING HAS BEEN DILUTED? LF: I think it is an unavoidable consequence of it and, at the end of the day, the shareholding is reflective of the amount of money that individuals or groups have put into Rangers, it is as simple as that. Dave and the Three Bears have put a massive amount of money in. Club 1872 put £1million in last year and there are two ways of looking at it. We have had that period where we have been the second largest shareholders and been up around the 10 per cent mark, and that has been great. But to have now completed that process, where they have put all the loans in, to still be the fourth largest shareholder is actually really good because it shows how much of a contribution there has been from the fans. It is a bit of a double-edged sword. If you had said there was going to be £20million invested in Rangers over a couple of years and, at the end of that process, Club 1872 would be the fourth largest shareholder, then actually that is really good. We are still above guys like George Letham and Barry Scott, who have contributed a lot. We are still ahead of them in terms of shareholding. That position, while it has changed, is still reflective of the contributions of the membership. We bought a significant amount of shares last year and put £1million into Rangers and there will be opportunities going forward for us to invest more and to change our position. It is a one member one vote system so each member decides for themselves what their motivation is. The members that we have spoken to have said that they see this is in the interests of the club, that this will make the club largely debt free and that is a position they want to be in. I think that was a motivator for individual members to vote the way they did. IS THE TARGET TO RAISE THE SHAREHOLDING BACK TO THE 10 PER CENT LEVEL AND GO FURTHER? LF: We believe we will get a chance to do that in the future and our participation at that point will only be limited by the extent to which supporters get behind the next campaign to raise money. We are sitting at around £400,000 in the bank at the moment and that is for shares and/or projects. We think we will need significantly more than that to participate in the next share issue. We will have the opportunity and that is something the members are aware of. IS THERE A TIMEFRAME FOR THE NEXT SHARE ISSUE AND HOW BIG A ROLE CAN YOU PLAY? LF: I think we would expect it to come fairly soon and it is not a secret that the club are looking to raise more money. I think it is about trying to make people understand that there is no barrier to Club 1872 having the shareholding that the fans want it to have and there is open participation from Club 1872 in any share issue that comes up. This is a different situation because this is just about the conversion of loans that have already been put in. In terms of going back out to shareholders and asking for fundraising, it is very likely that any future share issue would be limited again to a certain number of shareholders, it is unlikely that they will go out to all the small shareholders again because of the admin and cost of doing that. If they can raise funds again from the same people that have been putting money in previously, like Club 1872, then there will be opportunity to do that. The participation at that point is purely based on how much money we have in the bank. If it is £10million, then to stay where we are we would need around £700,000. If it is £20million, to stay where we are we would need £1.4million and it ramps up very quickly. If Dave King, George Letham, George Taylor, Douglas Park, if these guys are willing to keep putting in the amount of money that they are putting in and we can’t match that or put more in comparatively to our shareholding, then we are going to get diluted again. It is really about how much the fans want to have that voice, that shareholding, and if they do they need to join the organisation and put the money in. If we want to be an investor like Dave King, then we have to invest. You might not have £1million in your own bank account, but you might have £5 per month that you can give to Club 1872 and, collectively, we can invest huge sums into Rangers. THERE WILL COME A POINT WHERE THE CURRENT INVESTORS WON’T PUT MONEY IN ANYMORE, SO IT COULD THEN BE UP TO THE FANS. LF: I don’t think there would be any impediment to Club 1872 being able to take part in share issues, possibly smaller ones, for ongoing investment. There has obviously been this period since the current board where they had to invest very heavily in a period of time to get the club back to where it should be. Once it is there, once you have European income and commercial income improving, the club should be largely self-sustainable at some point in the next couple of years. At that point, Club 1872 will still be there with money and will be able to edge the shareholding back up, whether that is through share issues or buying shares from other people. It is actually one of the most efficient ways of getting money into the club. Obviously people want to buy season tickets, they want to buy strips and go for a pint before the game and that is the money they spend around football. In terms of just putting money into Rangers, this is the most efficient way to just help with the rebuilding process. We need to get that message through to people. COULD CLUB 1872 INVEST ON THE SAME TERMS AS OTHER SHAREHOLDERS OR DOES YOUR INVESTMENT COME THROUGH SHARE ISSUES RATHER THAN SOFT LOANS? LF: In a loan scenario, it would be up to members to decide whether they wanted to provide a loan with the possibility of that being converted to shares. It may well be that future investment from everybody can be done via share issues rather than the drip-feeding of loans over a period of time. It may well be that they can say ‘we want to raise £20million in two years’ so they have a share issue and raise £20million and the shares are just allocated out. So the need for the soft loans is mitigated to some degree. At each AGM, they have to go to shareholders for permission to allocate more shares and the way the shareholding make-up is at the moment and the way Club 1872 members have voted, it would see likely that they would be given that permission on an annual basis. Really, then, it is up to them how much money they want to raise. WHEN FANS SEE IMPROVEMENT ON THE PARK AND THINGS ARE MORE SETTLED AT BOARDROOM LEVEL, THERE IS NOT A FIGHT TO BE FOUGHT OR CAUSE FOR THEM TO RALLY BEHIND. IS THAT AN ISSUE FOR CLUB 1872? LF: We are in a position where we can’t let people forget where the club has been. It is an emotional intelligence, if you are not feeling it at that moment it is not real. It was part of our last campaign to remind people where the club had been and that it is important we have an ongoing revenue stream for the club, which people relate to and it inspires them to join. It is also about protecting the club in the future. We are around the 7,000 members mark and we gain members all the time. But we also lose them. We lose them to credit cards expiring and people not filling in the details again, so it isn’t a conscious decision to stop paying in. There are a multitude of reasons why people will drop off and people are added. We have been in this position where the take up and the drop off, apart from times around share issues and things like that where you get a big intake of members, the levels have stayed steady. In many ways, that is good because people are committed to this over a long period of time, they remain committed to it and see the benefit of doing it. It is that spark to get new members to come in that is the difficult part. In a crisis, people will react and will join and do whatever it takes. You saw the growth in the Supporters Trust and RangersFirst at a time when there was a real crisis. People do feel there is no need to it anymore because Dave King is doing it, Douglas Park is doing it. As things improve, it becomes a more normal situation and people think ‘we don’t have to do this’. I suppose the challenge is to say ‘how much quicker could the club get back to the top?’ and ‘how much better would it be to have the burden spread amongst a variety of investors?’. One of those investors would be Club 1872. We are still going to be the fourth largest shareholder after this significant conversion. So the question is whether you want to kick back to 10 per cent? Do you want to get to 15 or 25 per cent? The only way that is going to happen is if a lot more fans sign up for £5 or £10 per month. If they don’t do that, we might be able to hold at our percentage for a period of time but if the club raises £20million, maybe we will get diluted down again. The organisation is constantly putting the message out, but it is that word of mouth and existing members going to their friends and family and saying this is a good thing to do. It is money into Rangers, it gives the fans a voice and if there is ever a situation again where the club ends up in less secure hands than it is in at the moment, then Club 1872 will be in a position to react to that. That is not the only benefit to it, the other benefit is this level of investment. One of the things we are targeting is the latent supporter, so they don’t necessarily go to all the games or buy a strip, but they are Rangers fans. It is trying to get those people to say ‘if the only contribution I make is a month through Club 1872, I am showing my support for Rangers’. That is probably the audience we would like to tap into. We know people shell out a lot of money following Rangers and not everybody will see the benefit in an extra fiver or tenner a month. The reason supporters do that is because there is a collective mindset. You support the team, you go to the game. The team, the manager or the players will do things that aren’t popular from time to time, but you still support the team. Club 1872 has done things that haven’t been popular within the support, but equally we have done things that have been very popular, particularly around statements and people endorse that online or write to us. But it doesn’t translate into memberships, we don’t see people signing up on that basis. We would like to encourage the mindset within the support that this is something that is worthwhile, that you stick with it whether or not the organisation is doing something at the particular moment that you like. The reality is that we can’t please all of the people all of the time. We would like to, but there are times where the organisation does things policy wise or statement wise that you don’t necessarily agree with. But we want the mindset that this is just something you do. You buy your season ticket, you buy your jersey and you pay your Club 1872 subscription and stick with it. I think we still have some work to do with the support in terms of that collective responsibility mindset. IS A SEAT ON THE BOARD STILL AN AIM? HAS THERE BEEN ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT? LF: The members voted for it and it is a stated aim of the organisation. There is a lot of work, I think, to be done. It is about working out the mechanics of how it could actually work and setting the expectations of the supporters in terms of what that role would actually be. There is still this idea that if you have a fan on the board that they will emerge from every board meeting and announce to people what was discussed and what they argued for. That might work at slightly smaller clubs, but Rangers is a big business and it doesn’t work here. You would have to have an understanding, and a trust actually, that the person is doing the best they can on behalf of the members to feedback to the club. A lot of that stuff is happening already. You would want the seat on the board to formalise that process and give you the voting power and it is something the members have voted for so it is an aim of Club 1872. We haven’t met any resistance from the club and discussions about it are ongoing. https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17711637.rangers-qa-club-1872-on-ibrox-share-conversion-future-funding-plans-raising-their-stakes-and-a-seat-on-the-board/?ref=twtrec

THE CELTIC F.C. NUMBER 7 According to weekend newspaper reports police are hunting Celtic Football Club Paedophile Ring Bheast Number 7. https://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/article.php?i=272&a=the-celtic-f-c--number-7

Call for government to 'rip up' sectarianism secrecy deal with SPFL The Scottish government has been urged to "rip up" a secrecy agreement it reached with the SPFL over data on sectarianism in Scottish football. It emerged on Sunday that almost two years' data had been collated regarding unacceptable behaviour at grounds. The Scottish government was told it would only be able to view the data if it signed a contract that prohibited it from publishing the information. Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has been urged to make the data public. Nail Doncaster, chief executive of the SPL said the matter would be discussed at the next board meeting. At Holyrood, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur said Mr Yousaf should tear up the contract. He said: "The football authorities have been collating data for the past two seasons in secret. "Nobody but ministers and the police has ever seen it, they never will unless something changes. "Will the cabinet secretary rip up the secrecy agreement and publish today, in full, the contents of the sectarianism database?" Robust data required Mr Yousaf explained that the agreement had been signed by his predecessor, Michael Matheson. He said Mr Matheson had written to the SPFL in 2017 expressing his disappointment over the decision to keep the data from the public. The letter by Mr Matheson to SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster at the time read: "It's difficult to see how the building of public confidence can be achieved without being open and transparent. "I'm therefore disappointed that the data will not be publicly available and I hope that you will reconsider this decision." Mr Yousaf said he spoke to Mr Doncaster on Tuesday morning to outline the government's preference for the data to be made available. "I strongly agree that we need robust data to understand unacceptable conduct at football and take actions necessary to address it," Mr Yousaf said. "The data is collated by the football authorities, not the Scottish government. "It was only provided on the basis that it was, and I quote, 'confidential and is not published'." He added: "However, our clear and consistent preference has been for this data to be published, therefore I've spoken to SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster today to reiterate this once again and we'll follow up in writing. "He and the SPFL have confirmed that they are committed to discuss this positively at their next board meeting. "It's only through open and honest discussion, based on robust evidence, that we can work with all of our partners to tackle the unacceptable conduct by a minority of supporters which unfortunately continues to shame our national game." Potentially actionable Responding to Mr McArthur's call for the agreement to be ripped up, Mr Yousaf said it would not be possible. "It's not in my gift to just rip up an agreement with a stakeholder that could be potentially actionable if I do that," Mr Yousaf said. "Rather, what I've done this morning is spoken to Neil Doncaster through dialogue and conversation, asked him once again to reconsider the SPFL's objection to that. "In fairness to Neil Doncaster, he took a very constructive approach to that telephone conversation, has agreed that he'll put that forward to the board at the next board meeting and I hope through that dialogue we get to a place where that data can be very readily published." Police warn of rise in sectarianism Football 'must root out cancer of bigotry' Mr McArthur added: "It seems inconceivable that the government would sign up to an arrangement that's effectively gagged it by the SPFL. "The Scottish government's own independent commission asked for this data to be recorded and published annually to inform a proper public debate. "Serious conversations about options like strict liability are impossible if the figures are kept secret. "And that calls into question just how seriously those who have the data are working to lift the curse affecting Scottish football." He added: "I too would like to hear from Neil Doncaster because the SPFL's response has been to date, quite frankly, pathetic. "If their response to sectarianism is dependent on secrecy and gagging orders, they don't deserve to be running the game." Mr Doncaster said: "I had a very positive meeting with Humza Yousaf where he formerly requested that a variety of information be made public. "We will now discuss this as a board before deciding the best way forward. "During the conversation, we wholeheartedly agreed on the imperative to do all we can to tackle unacceptable conduct and underlined our keenness to play an active role in the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on combating sectarianism in Scottish society when it convenes, we believe, in the summer." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48683584

On loan Liverpool attacker speaks to RangersTV for the first time. https://rangers.co.uk/tv/view?it=17386&act=view&c=News

Ojo has signed, official

Draw today, getting excited already

Barriers in Scotland to any Independent Inquiry by the Scottish football authorities and the Police. https://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/barriers-in-scotland-to-any-independent-inquiry-by-the-scottish-football-authorities-and-the-police/

https://rangers.co.uk/news/galleries/gers-return-for-preseason/

THE SPFL and Scottish Government have been urged to release a secret document which uncovers the level of sectarianism in Scottish football. The Herald reports that ministers are withholding nearly two years of data on “unacceptable conduct” in footie grounds – supplied to them by Hampden blazers. SNP administrators say the information was provided by the SPFL confidentially and publishing it would undermine the football governing body’s trust in the Government. But anti-bigotry campaigners insist the dossier- gathered from the start of the 2017-18 season - should be released into the public domain. Nil By Mouth has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Information Commissioner to make the records available after being refused access by the Government under the freedom of information legislation. And the charity’s head Dave Scott has called for transparency as he blasted the SPFL’s hush-hush stance. He told the Herald: "Scottish football thinks it is a law unto itself and despite the investment of millions of pounds of public money into the game over recent years the SPFL seems to feel it doesn't have to be publicly accountable. “Duncan Morrow's report called for football to be transparent in its dealings on this issue and it's clear that the SPFL will go to any lengths to ensure this isn't the case. "Government and Parliament can't allow the SPFL to call the shots and if the commissioner finds in our favour we will be contacting Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee asking it to undertake an investigation into the report's findings allowing a cross-party group of MSPs to fully question the SPFL in public session." He added: "For too long the SPFL has operated its own system of 'selfregulation' where no-one is ever held to account and the issue of bigotry is swept under the carpet. “As a direct result the problem of sectarianism within the game festers with a third of all Scottish Premier League managers speaking out in recent months about repeated instances of sectarian abuse toward them, at games. "The SPFL cannot be allowed to dodge, deflect and deny its way out of its responsibilities for the problem and we are confident the commissioner will rule publication to be firmly in the public interest." Scottish football has been plagued by sectarian issues this season, with fans, players, managers and officials all being targeted from the stands. In February, Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke hit out after chants of “sad ****** b******” were directed towards him at Ibrox. Just two months later Aberdeen gaffer Derek McInnes was abused with “sad Orange b******” chants during a Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic. Labour MSP James Kelly said: "The SPFL and the Scottish Government should be up front and open when it comes to the levels of unacceptable conduct being recorded in football stadiums. "Without this transparency not only are we unable to view a clear picture of the scale of the problem, but we have little idea of what individual incidents are being classed as such." Scots Tory MSP Donald Cameron added: "There's no point in having freedom of information laws if data like this is kept secret. It's yet another example of the SNP trying to do government behind closed doors. "What's also concerning is that such secrecy and obstruction just serves to heighten suspicion about what's being kept under wraps. "In fact, Scottish football fans are among the best behaved in the world, and the authorities should therefore have nothing to fear from releasing this information." A Scottish Government official agreed that the information should be released but said their hands were tied. The spokesperson said: “Our strong preference was, and remains, that the SPFL should make the data publicly available. “However, the information has been provided to us on the condition that it was in confidence. "That followed discussions between the Scottish Government, Scottish FA, SPFL, Police Scotland and other stakeholders, where the football authorities agreed to collate data on unacceptable conduct in Scottish football for the first time from the start of the 2017-18 season - but on the condition that it remained confidential." The SPFL was asked whether they would agree to publish the figures and a spokesperson said: "We absolutely condemn all forms of unacceptable conduct at SPFL matches. “Our focus is on supporting the extensive work that our clubs and the police do to identify and punish the small minority of individuals who engage in this type of dangerous behaviour." https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4373389/spfl-snp-government-secrecy-row-over-footie-sectarianism-dossier/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1560703145

Jordan Jones speaks to RangersTV for the first time after signing from Kilmarnock. https://rangers.co.uk/tv/view?it=17377&act=view&c=News&s=54

Greg Docherty reveals Andy Halliday inspiration as he looks to make Rangers impact The midfielder was out on loan last season but is desperate to make his mark under Steven Gerrard. Greg Docherty could barely have done more to please Rangers gaffer Steven Gerrard. When the Ibrox boss sent the midfielder to Shrewsbury Town on loan a year ago there were two objectives. To play games and to impress. Having racked up 50 
appearances and bagged 10 goals for the League One outfit, Docherty’s first box was 
comfortably ticked. Throw in the fact that he picked up the club’s Player of the Year award and you’d have to say he has done everything his manager asked of him. When Gers stars report back for pre-season training at the Hummel Training Centre tomorrow, the 22-year-old will attempt to show Gerrard the full benefits of his stint with the Shrews down south. Docherty accepted that he wasn’t going to play regularly at Ibrox last term so launched himself into a new experience at New Meadow. But after a season of hard graft, three different bosses and a memorable FA Cup goal on live TV, he feels he’s a much improved player from 12 months ago. As a boyhood Rangers fan, he has watched every game from his digs in Shropshire, admiring how Gerrard has shaped a 
new-look midfield. Towards the end of the 
season, he marvelled at the form of experienced duo Steven Davis and Scott Arfield in the Ibrox engine room. And now Docherty feels ready to join them. Gearing up for the biggest summer of his career so far, the former Hamilton Accies kid is relishing the opportunity to compete with the likes of Davis, Arfield, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara for a slot in Gerrard’s starting line-up. He told MailSport: “The 
midfield has been terrific for Rangers, especially towards the end of the campaign. “But I have to believe I can fight my way in there. I knew when I signed for the club there would be quality additions to the squad. “I’ve loved watching Davo and Scotty in particular. They’ve both played at the highest level and I want to be around these guys to learn off them. “I spent a couple of weeks at the training ground near the end of the season and it was great speaking to them. “Those boys, along with the likes of Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara, have got the lot. But I definitely feel I can bring something different to the midfield. I have belief in my own ability. “In certain games, I believe I can contribute if the manager needs something different. “I got close to Scotty last year because he was in from day one. And the odd day I went back, he was full of praise for me. “He’d ask how many goals I had at Shrewsbury and he was pleased I was doing well. He’d send me few texts as well. “I watched him score two belters for Canada last week. “He was talking about improving that side of his game last pre-season so that proves he has worked on it. He’s such a clever player. “That’s the side I’m 
desperate to learn off him, the cuteness of his play. “With Davo, he just oozes class and he’s a joy to watch. He’s a top midfielder. “I’m aware that the 
balance of the midfield has looked really good recently and I’ve a fight on my hands to get in. “But I knew it was 
never going to be straightforward at such a big club. I have to trust myself, stay fit and, when the opportunity comes, I need to take it.” Rangers monitored Docherty’s performances at Shrewsbury on a regular basis, with assistant boss Gary 
McAllister watching him in the flesh more than once. New Ibrox loans manager Billy Kirkwood developed a bond with the midfielder and wouldn’t always tell him when he was going to be in the stand. Docherty admits he matured a lot in England – and feels 
satisfied he achieved what he wanted by going out on loan. Now he would love to emulate Rangers team-mate Andy 
Halliday who was also 
previously shipped out before returning to nail down a spot in Gerrard’s squad. Doc said: “I feel I’ve improved massively after the experience of going out on loan. Playing games is the best way to do that but everything was new to me down there. “Different people, different grounds, different style of play. “I was the only Scottish boy in the dressing-room so I 
had to adjust to a different 
environment. “I had a few managers as well so there were highs and lows. To come through it then pick up the Player of the Year award was brilliant. “I’ve put myself in a good place coming back to Rangers. “The chat I had with the 
manager a year ago was about playing games and doing well. “I have now achieved both of those targets. “Before I went, I only knew Kirky in passing. We would say hello in the corridor at the training ground. “But since he took on his new role we’ve developed a really close relationship. He has been the middle man, feeding 
information back to the club and the management. “If I ever needed anything at all, Kirky was always there – we had regular contact. “I lost count of the amount of games he was down to watch. “Sometimes he’d let me know but the odd time I’d get a text afterwards to say he’d been there. “And if I’d played well, it was great to know that. “I now look at someone like Andy. “He went out on loan, came back to Rangers and forced his way back in. “His attitude is first class, you can’t fault him. He has taken a lot of stick but just brushes it off and bounces back. I’m full of admiration for him. “He has shown in the last year just how much he wants to be at the club – that’s the guys I have to look at. “He’s willing to give his heart and soul for a jersey and I feel the same.” Docherty and Halliday are now in a growing group of Rangers supporters in Gerrard’s 
dressing-room who are all desperate 
to wrestle the 
Premiership trophy off Celtic and stop their rivals winning nine-in-a-row. The likes of Allan McGregor, Graham Dorrans, Jack, Jamie Murphy and new boy Greg Stewart also fall into that 
category. Docherty is 
convinced it will be a close-run title race this season – and is desperate to be part of it. He said: “To be part of a squad going for the championship would be priceless for me. “Just the prospect of Rangers being involved in a proper race – as it was last season before our blip in January – would be really exciting. “The manager has spoken about the team finding that consistency and, if that 
happens, it will be great. “Things are different now – if you look at the Old Firm games last season, it’s now a more 
level playing field between Celtic and Rangers. “The clubs will be going head to head for the title and it’s an exciting prospect for me to be involved in it.” https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/greg-docherty-reveals-andy-halliday-16522664

Ibrox sources have told Football Insider the terms of a deal have now been agreed between League One club Doncaster and Rangers, who are hoping it will have the same benefit for Middleton as Greg Docherty’s loan at Shrewsbury Town in the same league last season. Grant McCann’s side will pay a six-figure fee for Middleton as well as contributing to his wages for the campaign. https://www.footballinsider247.com/ibrox-sources-english-club-to-sign-rangers-player-after-agreeing-fee/