Frankie

First of all, congratulations on helping deliver a 53rd title to our club. To do so - albeit aided by an impressive manager, committed players and loyal support - amongst difficult financial circumstances is worthy of praise; no matter the problems of the past. I'm also delighted to see a more robust defence of our club on a range of recent issues - long before time. However, the hard work is just started and laurel resting is not the order of the day! If we're to build on this season's title success and improve further I sincerely hope work is ongoing in that respect. Please forgive the empirical analysis below but every fan will expect action as we renew our season tickets before next week's deadline. First of all - the manager must be secured on a new contract immediately - with the promise that our out-of-contract players will be offered genuine deals in line with their value to the club. With the CL Group Stage income secured for next season, there is no excuse and no reason why this cannot be done. It may prove difficult to persuade one or two to stay but if they are unaffordable or we can't promise them regular first team football, say so now and act quickly to replace them. There are more than enough players available elsewhere who are out of contract and who will be affordable and persuaded to sign for a club again competing at the highest level. Similarly, if further finance is required to improve the team and if key players don't want to be part of our future - sell them now and organise their replacements effectively. Madjid Bougherra has been a fine player in his time here but this season has shown he is not indispensable. His intentions must be known by now - waiting until August to move him (and/or others in the same position) on and fund his replacement is risky. The quicker we turnover the squad, the quicker they gel and the less chance of problems. Ask Tony Mowbray. As well as these essential operations with regard to our on-the-field activities, the ongoing ownership saga and bank involvement is one that worries many fans. Despite your comments at December's AGM and quotes on similar issues since, doubt and cynicism remains. What is the financial agreement with the bank? How difficult is our relationship with MIH? Who are the preferred bidders and what do you think of their plans? Be honest with us and you'll find our loyalty will not waver but increase. To that end, fan/club relations must improve. We love the club and you thank us for our commitment. If that praise is genuine, bring us into the fold, use our opinions wisely and foster the skills we can bring to the table. The Rangers family is a vital component of the challenges ahead - instead of estrangement, let's get together more and bring back the kind of trust and respect that will make our relationship more fruitful than ever. Obviously, no-one is suggesting the above is simple and can be done over a couple of weeks. However, the issues mentioned have been clear for a number of months now and the same concerns remain. In that respect, we shouldn't be hoping you're acting competently on our behalf but expecting it. Therefore, in the same way we want to see any potential owner outline their plans for the club, it is also time for you to apply yours and show our investment for next season will not be a wasteful one. Can you deliver?

Less talking - more action...

Amongst the hyperbole and sensationalism over legal tax loopholes (yes, I did say legal), last night's result in France where Bayern Munich routed Lyon over two legs means Rangers have now qualified for next season's Champions' League Group Stage. Currently we're third seeds but we could easily make it into the second group of seeds given the right results. However, future performance aside, the main issue for those who control the club and, for many of us who support it, will be the associated finance with this competition. Up to �£17million of income could be secured if, as expected, Celtic fail to negotiate a difficult qualifying route to the group stage. In an era where our future participation in the competition will be far from guaranteed, that money could well be the last pot of genuine gold at the end of the UEFA rainbow. Moving back to the hysterical coverage in the media then and the debate turns to how will that income be used. Will it be ring-fenced to reduce debt or will it be reinvested into the club to address such crucial issues as the loss of out-of-contract players and, erm, the broken big screens? To be honest, despite the protestations of the club yesterday evening, the former is most likely with a bank ever wary of a club (and parent company) sailing close to the rocks in recent times. Of course, panic aside, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The club debt may well be reducing but it is certainly agreeable to use any future income to reduce it further and/or prepare in advance for less lucrative seasons. After all, without a decent run in European football, an annual loss is probable to be reported. Years of cuts in playing staff and wages, along with savings made elsewhere may signal efficiency but perhaps still not enough to break even without the UEFA cash cow. And this is where the harbingers of doom have some sway. With various players out of contract or likely to be sold and the management team similarly non-committal, just what is the competitive future of the club? After all, while the bank has every right to expect its debt to be repaid, why are they so keen to dispense with already agreed and perfectly reasonable repayment structures? The plight of the crumbling MIH empire may well be casting a dark shadow of influence and their delayed annual accounts will be interesting reading when finally released this week. However, Rangers remain in profit and, unlike other teams in Glasgow, our fans have shown they will not desert our club even when success may not be imminent. As such, the immediate future is not as bad as some would like to paint. Nevertheless it appears the battle-lines have been drawn. Potential owners and sources within the club itself are lining up to leak information to all and sundry - from internet mischief-makers, to tabloid journalists, to phone-in hosts and more. Suddenly - less than 48 hours after securing our 53rd title - the muck is being thrown and the 'Rangers in Crisis' headlines are of a huge gauge on the street paper-stands. Once again, the average Rangers supporter is left worried and bewildered as opposing camps fight it out in the media. Hardly the dignified approach our loyal and committed support deserve. Ever since the ownership issue suddenly appeared to be the main topic of the club's immediate future, some fans have called for clarity and leadership from those who purport to buy and represent us. Unfortunately, there has been little evidence of this from any party involved. Fingers are pointed, accusations are thrown and blame is cast as the poker game gets very dirty indeed. It seems everyone has had their say but few in a positive sense. From Dave King, to Douglas Park, to Andrew Ellis, to Graham Duffy, to the RST, to Sir David Murray, to Alistair Johnston, to Walter Smith, to Donald Muir and to all the journalists choosing their side of the fence to stand on; all should be asking themselves just what this very public battle is doing for our club. This should be a time of celebration and oneupmanship as we break our own world record. Instead division is again rife, and those who matter most at the vital time of season ticket renewal, are treated with disdain and disrespect. To a man, Rangers fans care passionately about their club but the 'political' sleaze currently surrounding it is as distasteful as the spin we see mirrored in the General Election debate. But, at least we're given a vote and debated with in that arena. As its stands, not one of the main names mentioned above has had the honesty, the integrity, the transparency and the leadership to actually come out and show why they should own the club and why their plans will ensure our world record will be maintained in future years. Not one has come to our support and said this is why you matter to me and why your opinion will form an important part of the club for its future. That is nothing short of a disgrace and is just as worrying as any financial issues we may face in the coming years. Rangers need leadership - it is well beyond time for those who think they're capable of that to show it.

All well and good to comment in papers - much more difficult to garner support constructively...

Sounds pretty good mate - I'll put it to the TBO lads...

Here's more; http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2010/04/28/rangers-hero-nacho-novo-tells-celtic-to-shut-those-mouths-after-accusing-rivals-of-season-of-moaning-86908-22217510/

We'll see....

With the coverage over the last few days, you'd think we 'd just lost the league and the associated monies with our CL qualification. FFS, Hugh MacDonald even suggests Bougherra will be sold for �£3million! :D

Such people have been challenged to change their strategy in the past but their response has been less than constructive. They continue to pull the strings in the background yet appear less than eager to step into the foreground.

King is entitled to offer what he thinks the club is worth. However, if he wants to gain fan support for his bid, he should try an alternative strategy to the one he's employed so far.

Indeed - which is why I'd be very surprised if several different parties had made a mistake here. Would others also be liable to Rangers for giving bad advice?

May well have been. However, I'm sure he has someone who can act on his behalf - and video conference calls are easily organised nowadays.

Club confirms investigation and pending court case... http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks-ignore/taxman-targets-rangers-1.1023503

As always Carino's opinion is worthy of rumination on FF:

What is obvious is that it is far from clear if any offence has been committed let alone punished yet. The hysteria being created without an alternative course of action really is irresponsible.

It is October all over again with the same hearsay being displayed. We've all been worried about the state of the club for a long time now and any tax investigation is just one more box to be ticket in the negativity stakes. Yet, 6 months down the line from the last predictions of doomsday, the tactics are still the same. What are we to do here? We're all adults; tell us and we may be able to formulate some kind of plan. If Dave King is so concerned, fly back here, meet with the fan groups, meet with the fans, get player/managerial support and then take action. Anything else is not enough.

At the club AGM, the chairman told us the current business plan was in place with the bank until January - including the 20 year long-term loan previously discussed. I fail to see what Lloyds would have to gain from drastically changing these terms given their own good financial news this morning.

I'm all for pressurising the club which could catalyse regime change. However, the tactics being used so far are not helping all that much IMO. I fail to see how not renewing our season tickets would help the situation. Sure, the price of the club may come down, but I doubt media coverage will affect such sales to the degree that it will worry the bank. Better strategies are surely available.

The overall jist may well be correct. The actual chances of the issue costing us �£20million are less certain.

We've been against the wall for months and this site has been vocal in calling continually for clarity and leadership. We're seeing neither and this continual scaremongering in the media is irresponsible unless it is accompanied with genuine facts and action from those responsible.

6 months is a long time in business - especially when one examines the Lloyds profits reported today. That doesn't mean Rangers will be treated any differently but that is up to the key players (the club owner and chairman) to make us aware of the ongoing situation.

Even if this information is true, what direction are we supposed to take here... Dave King seems to be leaking this information - along with others perhaps. What does he suggest the supporters do? Obviously any fan pressure would lower the price he'd have to pay for the club so his motive is clear in one aspect. But this continual drip-drip of information to internet forums and journalists isn't really helping in my view. Where is the leadership?

Another article:

Hmmmm, sensationalist nonsense IMO but perhaps one of our own tax specialists on here could confirm...?

I'd have thought so but that is only guesswork. For example saying you may be prepared to pay a higher price, leaves you open to the seller upping it for any small reason.